IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


11.25 


liilM    125 

m  ^^^  ■■■ 
ut  lU   12.2 

It   M£    120 

I.         4. 


0> 


^ 


'/ 


'/ 


/^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


T«chnie«l  and  Bibliographio  Not««/Not«t  taohntquat  at  bibliographiquaa 


Th«e( 
to  tha 


Tha  Instituta  haa  anamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□    Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  eoulaur 


|~~|    Covara  damagad/ 


D 


D 


D 


n 


Couvartura  andommagto 


Covara  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raatauria  at/ou  palliculAa 


□   Covar  titia  miaaing/  . 
La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

r~1    Colourad  mapa/ 


Cartaa  giographiquas  9n  eoulaur 


Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  eoulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


r~n    Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


D 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  eoulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Ralii  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


Tight  binding  may  causa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  re  liura  sarria  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatoraion  la  long  da  la  marga  int*riauro 

Blank  laavas  addad  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  possibla.  thasa 
have  been  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainaa  pagas  blanches  ajoutAas 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissant  dana  la  taxte, 
mais.  lorsqua  cala  Atait  possibla.  ces  pagaa  n'ont 
pas  «t«  filmias. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplAmantairas: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  meilleur  examplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  Atd  poaaibia  da  sa  procurer.  Les  details 
da  oat  examplaira  qui  sent  paut-Atre  unique*  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvent  modifier 
una  image  raproduite,  ou  qui  pauvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normale  de  filmaga 
aont  indiquAa  ci-daaaoua. 


r~]  Colourad  pagas/ 


D 


Pagaa  da  eoulaur 

Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagiaa 

Pagas  restored  and/o( 

Pagas  rastaurias  at/ou  palliculAas 

Pagaa  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe« 
Pages  d*color*es.  taehetAes  ou  piquAes 

Pagas  detached/ 
Pagas  ditachAas 

Showthrough> 
Transparenea 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inAgala  de  I'impression 

Includas  supplamentary  matarii 
Comprand  du  matiriai  supplimentaire 

Only  adition  availabia/ 
Saule  Adition  disponible 


r~1  Pagaa  damagad/ 

|~n  Pagas  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~~1  Pagaa  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

r~n  Pagas  detached/ 

r^  Showthrough/ 

r~n  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

|~~|  Includas  supplamentary  matarial/ 

|~n  Only  adition  availabia/ 


Thair 
poaail 
of  tha 
flimin 


Origir 
bogin 
tha  la 
aion. 
othar 
firatr 
slon, 
or  Ittti 


Thali 
shall 
TINUI 
whicf 

Mapa 
diff  ar 
antira 
bagin 
right  I 
raquii 
mathi 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  ate.  have  bean  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pagas  totalement  ou  partiellament 
obscurcias  par  un  feuillat  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  M  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  cheeked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rAduction  indiquA  ci-dassous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


aox 


y 

12X 


ISX 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  oopv  filmed  h«r«  hat  lM«n  rtproduotd  thanks 
to  th«  ganaroalty  of: 

Univtriity  of  Altorta 
Edmonton 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  Kara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  eonaidaring  tfta  condition  and  laglbillty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  oontraet  apaeiflcationa. 


Original  eopioa  in  printad  papar  oovara  ara  fllmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  oovar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
•ion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  beginning  on  tha 
firat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
•ion.  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aoeh  microfleho 
•hall  contain  tha  aymbol  "i^^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  aymbol  y  (moaning  "END"), 
whiehavar  appiiaa. 


L'aKamplaira  filmA  fut  raproduit  griea  A  la 
gAnAroait*  da: 

Univwrtlty  of  Albtrta 
Edmonton 

Laa  imagaa  auivantaa  ont  AtA  raproduitaa  avae  la 
piua  grand  •oin,  eompta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattatA  da  I'axampiaira  film*,  at  9n 
conformity  avae  laa  conditiona  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  •n 
papiar  aat  imprimAa  aont  fiimAa  mn  eommancant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniira  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration.  aoit  par  la  second 
plat,  talon  le  caa.  Toua  laa  autrea  axempiairaa 
originaux  sent  flimto  en  commen^ant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illuatration  at  %t\  terminant  par 
la  darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  aymbolee  auiventa  appareltra  tur  la 
derni4re  imege  do  cheque  microfiche,  teion  le 
ces:  le  aymboie  —^  aignifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
•ymbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Mepa.  platee.  charta.  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratioa.  Thoae  too  large  to  be 
entirely  Included  in  one  expoaure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  comer,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  llluatrate  the 
method: 


Lea  cartea.  planchea.  tableeux.  etc..  peuvent  *tre 
filmAa  A  dee  taux  da  rMuction  diffirenta. 
Loraqua  le  document  eet  trop  grend  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  soul  ciich*.  il  eat  f  Ilm4  i  partir 
da  Tangle  aup^rieur  gauche,  do  gauche  A  droite, 
et  do  haut  an  baa.  an  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imegea  nAcaaaaira.  Laa  diagremmes  auiventa 
illuatrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1::  .:  :1  .  ;■ 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

*• 


& 


■■i 


^\^ 


n^"^.: 


H 

f 

V  o 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


BORDER  WARS 


or 


TWO  CENTURIES 


XMBRACINO   A 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  WARS  WITH  THE  INDIANS 
FROM  1750  TO  1874. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


COMPILED  AND  WRITTEN   FROM  THE  MOST  RELIABLE  SOURCES, 


BY 


CHARLES  RICHARD  TUTTLE, 

AUTHOR  OF  "  THE  ILLUSTRATED  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MICHIGAN." 


CHICAGO: 
PUBLISHED  BY  C.  A.  WALL  &  COMPANY, 

105,  107  &  109  MADISON  STREET. 
1874. 


5  f  , 


il 


w 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874, 

Bt  CHARLES  R.  TUTTLE, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


i^^%»»» 


UMUtY  OF  JHi  UNIVERSITY 
•^  AUtCTi 


:/   I 


■li 


PREFACE. 


This  Volume  is  simply  what  its  title  page  indi- 
cates—  a  history  of  the  Border  Wars  of  the  United 
States  from  the  fall  of  Canada,  in  1759,  ^0  and 
including  the  Indian  troubles  in  the  far  West  in 
1874.  T^hc  narrative  opens  with  a  brief  history  of 
the  Indian  Nations  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  a 
short  description  of  the  outposts  of  both  the  Eng- 
lish and  French  colonies  as  they  appeared  at  the 
close  of  the  French  war.  Then  follows,  in  consider- 
able detail,  an  account  of  the  Pontiac  War,  which  in 
its  desolating  march  spread  the  horror  of  murder  and 
massacre  from  the  Carolinas  to  the  most  northern 
lake  fort  From  this  desperate  struggle  the  reader  is 
conducted  through  the  tempests  of  Border  Warfare 
in  its  furious  march  across  the  Continent,  from  the 
Alleghanies  and  the  lakes  to  the  dangerous  lava-cave 
ambuscades  of  the  ^^odocs,  in  Arizona,  and  the  wilds 
of  the  Pacific  slope.  At  the  proper  point  the  narra- 
tive is  interrupted  to  give  place  to  a  brief  history  of 
the  Indian  tribes,  and  a  description  of  the  outposts 
.  of  civilization  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

In  the  course  of  the  history  the  reader  is  presented 


!l 


2093060 


PRKTAOK. 


with  interesting  and  authentic  sketches  of  the  lives  ot 
Chiefs  Pontiac,  Brant,  Tecumseh,  Black  Hawk,  Cap- 
tain Jack,  and  the  great  Indian  warriors  who  have 
figured  conspicuously  in  Border  Warfare  in  North 
America ;  the  various  treaties  that  have  been  made 
and  broken,  the  boundary  lines  that  have  been  agreed 
upon  and  invaded ;  in  short,  all  the  events  that  have, 
for  the  time,  either  prevented  or  promoted  these 
wars,  are  fully  and  truthfully  represented,  so  that  the 
reader,  after  carefully  perusing  this  Volume,  will,  in 
the  absence  of  any  opinion  expressed  by  the  author, 
be  able  to  judge  intelligently  for  himself  of  the  merits 
of  the  treatment  which  the  native  tribes  have  received 
at  the  hands  of  the  United  States  government. 

The  demand  for  this  work  cannot  be  questioned. 
There  is  not  a  single  person  interested  in  the  history 
of  the  United  States  who  has  not  felt  the  want  of  a 
reliable  History  of  the  Wars  between  his  country  and 
the  Indians ;  and  it  is  with  a  view  to  supply  this  want 
that  this  book  is  presented  to  the  public.  It  has  been 
compiled  and  written  from  the  most  reliable  sources, 
and,  it  is  confidently  believed,  will  be  found  complete, 
authentic  and  interesting.  The  various  books,  publi- 
cations and  reports  which  have*been  consulted,  and 
to  which  the  perfection  of  this  Volume  is  largely 
indebted,  require  something  more  than  a  passing 
notice  in  this  introduction.  In  compiling  and  writing 
a  volume  such  as  the  following,  where  most  of  the 


rHKrkvM. 


materials  used  have  been,  in  some  way,  connected 
with  other  books,  it  is  impossible,  in  the  course  of  the 
narrative,  to  give  proper  credit  to  the  authors  con- 
sulted ;  and,  in  order  that  the  reader  may  know  to 
what  extent  books  heretofore  published  have  contrib- 
uted to  the  perfection  of  this  work,  I  take  this 
opportunity  of  making  the  necessary  explanation. 

Mr.  Francis  Parkman  deser\es  the  first  mention. 
From  his  valuable  works  on  the  Indians  and  Indian 
wars  east  of  the  Mississippi,  has  been  gathered  the 
materials  which  make  up  the  first  part  of  this  book, 
and  it  is  only  necessary  to  make  this  reference  to 
establish  the  authenticity  of  my  history  of  the  Pontiac 
war,  for  there  is  no  more  able,  complete,  or  interesting 
narrative  of  this  terrible  border  war  than  that  given 
by  Mr.  Parkman,  whose  writings  are  justly  regarded 
as  an  ornament  to  American  literature. 

In  that  part  of  the  narrative  which  gives  an  account 
of  Harmar's,  St.  Clair's  and  Harrison's  campaigns 
against  the  Indians, including  T^cum  vK's  war.  I  have 
gathered  much  from  the  works  of  Messrs.  James  H. 
Perkins  and  J.  M.  Peck  —  a  volume  originally  com- 
piled by  the  former  and  revised  by  the  latter — 
entitled  "The  Western  Annals."  I  have  frequently 
given  this  volume  credit  in  the  course  of  the  narra- 
tive; but,  in  addition,  I  wish  to  make  this  acknowl- 
edgment here. 

My  account  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  is  materially 
dependent  upcm  Mr.   Upham's  valuable  little  book 


i 


0  PRKrACI. 

which  is  entirely  devoted  to  the  life  of  thin  wayward 
chief.  In  this  volume,  the  author  takes  occasion,  and 
I  think,  justly,  to  censure  the  acts  of  the  United 
States  authorities  for  needlessly  irritating  the  Sacs 
to  this  bloody  onset. 

In  the  brief  account  of  the  Indian  tribes  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  which  precedes  my  history  of  the 
Indian  wars  in  the  same  territory,  Mr.  Charles  De 
Wolf  Brownell  is  the  most  valuable  contributor.  His 
standard  work,  entitled  the  "  Indian  Races  of  North 
and  South  America,"  has  been  freely  consulted,  and, 
although  the  usual  credit  is  given  in  the  proper 
places,  I  cannot  fail  to  mention  it  here. 

In  my  account  of  the  adventures  of  Colonel  John 
C.  Fremont,  and.  Christopher  Carson,  I  have  freely 
used  the  official  reports  of  the  former,  the  "  Life  and 
Explorations  of  Fremont,"  and  other  volumes,  but  I 
shall  not  undertake  to  enumerate  all  the  official 
reports  and  documents  which  have  contributed  to  the 
thrilling  catalogue  of  wars  and  adventures  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  which  constitutes  the  last  part  of  this 
book.  It  will  suffice  to  say  that  some  five  or  six  hun- 
dred of  these  have  been  diligently  consulted  and 
always  with  good  results. 

A  description  of  the  principal  battles  during  the 
conquest  of  Mexico,  which  has  been  thrown  in  to 
relieve  the  general  current  of  Indian  warfare,  is 
largely  dependent  upon  a  njeat  little  volume  entitled 
"The   Mexican  War  and   its    Heroes."     I  have  no 


niKVAOK. 


means  of  knowing  the  name  o(  the  author  of  this 
volume,  since  it  has  not  been  attached  to  its  pages.  I 
ought  also  to  mention  "  The  Life  and  Adventures  of 
Kit  Carson,"  by  Col.  DeWitt  C.  Peters,  which  came 
into  my  hands  a  few  days  before  this  volume  was 
given  to  the  publishers.  It  is  a  deeply  interesting, 
strictly  authentic  work,  that  reflects  scarcely  less 
honor  upon  the  name  of  the  famous  mountaineer 
than  credit  upon  his  biographer.  Several  important 
passages  in  this  work  have  their  origin  in  the  labors 
of  this  author.  The  brief  account  of  the  Seminole 
war,  which  closes  this  volume  has  been  compiled  and 
written  from  Mr.  Joshua  R.  Giddings'  valuable  book 
entitled,  "  The  Exiles  of  Florida,"  a  neat  little  work 
of  surpassing  interest. 

I  wish  to  claim  for  myself  only  the  earnest  labor 
of  a  compiler,  and  in  presenting  this  book  to  the 
public,  I  do  so  in  the  belief  that  the  materials  have 
been  so  arranged  as  to  constitute  the  most  complete 
and  satisfactory  history  of  the  wars  with  the  Indians 
of  the  United  States  and  Territories  that  has  yet 
been  written. 

CHARLES  R.  TUTTLE. 

Chicago,  March,  1874. 


J 


r 


HISTORY   OF 


The  Border  Wars. 


CHAPTER    I. 
Tbk  Ihdian  TniBBi  or  trb  Labb  Rboiob  —  Obmbbal  Ohabaotkr- 

IBTICt  — ThIBAL  DIVMIONS— MoDB  or  OOVBBMMBNT— MyTHI  AMD- 
LboBNM— TlIBIK  £l.Oqt]KNOB  AND  BaOAOITT  —  DWBLMNQI,  Vlk 
I<AOU  AND  PORTI  — ThB   WaH  PaTH  — FeSTIVAUI    AND    PaITIMB*  — 

Rkmoioui  Faith. 

Before  entering  upon  an  account  of  the  scenes  and  incident! 
of  the  Border  Wars  of  the  Northwest,  I  will  give  the  reader  a 
faint  glimpse  of  the  condition  of  the  Indian  tril)e8  of  the  lake 
region  about  the  date  at  which  our  narrative  commences— 
1700.  Tlie  territory  east  of  the  Mississippi  was  occupied,, 
excepting  where  the  whites  had  intruded  their  colonial  settle- 
ments, by  three  great  families,  differing  from  each  other  by  a 
radical  peculiarity  of  language.  They  wore  called  the  Iroquois, 
Algonquin  and  Mobilian  nations.  The  Mobilians  embraced  the 
confederacy  of  the  Creeks  and  the  Choctaws,  but  as  they  took 
no  active  part  in  the  ensuing  narrative,  I  will  avoid  any  detaila 
of  their  history.  But  the  Iroquois  and  the  Algonquin  nations^ 
being  conspicuously  identified  with  the  last  great  struggle  of 
the  savages  against  civilization,  demand  a  closer  attention. 

Foremost  in  eloquence,  war  and  intellect  stood  the  Iroquois. 
To  use  their  own  words,  they  "  were  a  mighty  and  warlike 

(0) 


J 


i 


10 


TlIK    lylVKS   OF    lONTIAC   AND  TI':CUM8KH  : 


peo])le,"  and  thoy  oxtciuled  tlicir  conqueBts  from  Quebec  to  tho 
Ciirolinas,  on  the  eeaboard,  and  to  the  MiBBiseippi  on  the  went. 
Kverywliero  in  tliis  broad  country  they  established  their  name 
and  power,  and,  indeed,  throughout  tho  country  they  were  tho 
terror  alike  of  whites  and  Indians.  In  the  south  they  had 
conquered  the  Deiawares,  and  were,  at  this  time,  forcing  them 
to  a  heavy  tribrte;  in  the  north,  they  had  completely  subjected 
the  Wyandots,  and  prohibited  them  the  use  of  arms;  in  the 
west  they  exterminated  the  Eries,  and  in  the  east  "  a  single 
Mohawk  war  cry  was  sufficient  to  terrify  all  the  Indians  in 
New  England." 

But  the  Indians  were  not  alone  in  terror  of  the  Iroqnois. 
All  Cannda  trembled  beneath  their  infuriated  onset.  More 
than  once  Champlain  fled  with  his  troops  to  the  forts  for 
refuge,  leaving  his  pursuing  conquerors  to  destroy  and  plunder 
the  defenseless  French  settlements.  Certainly  the  history  of 
such  a  powerful  nation  should  not  be  slighted,  yet  to  trace  it 
beyond  the  dark  border  of  the  discovery  is  beyond  the  power 
of  human  penetration. 

As  we  glance  at  them  in  1700,  we  find  their  central  govern- 
ment located  within  the  present  limits  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  where,  in  the  Valley  of  the  Onondaga,  the  chiefs  of  the 
several  tribes  of  this  great  family  held  their  civil  and  military 
councils  for  many  generations.  The  Iroquois  nation  consisted 
of,  first  five,  and,  at  a  later  period,  six  tribes,  called  the 
Mohawks,  the  Oneidas,  the  Onondagas,  the  Cayugas,  the  Sen- 
ecas  and  the  Tuscaroras.  These  tribes  were  bound  together  by 
a  loose  confederacy,  being,  in  a  small  measure,  subject  to  a 
general  congress,  but  each  tribe  had  its  own  organization,  and 
independent  tribal  government.  Each  tribe  had  several 
sachems,  who.  with  the  subordinate  chiefs  and  principal  men, 
regulated  all  its  civil  and  military  affairs;  but  when  foreign 
powers  were  to  be  consulted,  or  important  treaties  made,  all 
the  sachems  of  the  several  tribes  convened  in  general  assembly 
at  the  great  council  house  —  the  Iroquois  capitol  —  in  the  val- 
ley of  the  Onondaga.  Here  tho  Congressmen  of  the  Six 
Nations  were  received,  the  great  council  fire  kindled,  treaties 
made  and  difficulties  settled.      Hero  the  simple    Iroquois 


Oft,   'niK   BOUUER   WARS  OF  TWO   (JKNTDRIBS. 


11 


sachem  eat  and  listened  to  the  eloquent  Bpecches  of  the  leading 
chiefH,  who  spoke  their  honest  sentiments  in  accordance  with 
the  most  ancient  usages  of  their  nation. 

When  Jacques  Cartier  first  visited  the  St.  Lawrence  he  found 
the  savages  of  the  Six  Nations  occupying  the  country  along 
the  north  bank  of  the  river,  and,  as  early  as  1536,  he  discov- 
ered a  town  of  the  Huron-Iroquois,  consisting  of  about  fifty 
liuts,  near  tlie  present  site  of  the  city  of  Montreal.  This  vil- 
lage was  situated  in  the  midst  of  large  fields  of  Indian  corn, 
and  must,  even  at  this  early  day,  have  been  a  place  of  consid- 
erable importance,  or,  to  use  the  words  of  another,  "the 
metropolis  of  the  neighboring  country." 

Mr.  Stone,  in  his  able  writings  on  the  Indians  of  the  Six 
Nations,  gives  the  following  description  of  this  village:  "  It 
waft  surrounded  by  palisades  or  trunks  of  trees  set  in  a  triple 
row.  The  outer  and  inner  ranges  of  palisades  inclined  till 
they  met  and  crossed  near  the  summit,  while  the  upright  row 
between  them,  aided  by  transverse  braces,  gave  to  the  whole 
an  abundant  strength.  Within  were  galleries  for  the  defend- 
ers, rude  ladders  to  mount  them,  and  magazines  of  stone  to 
throw  down  on  the  heads  of  the  assailants.  A  single  entrance 
was  secured  witli  piles  and  stakes,  and  every  precaution  adopted 
against  sudden  attack  or  seige.  The  town  consisted  of  about 
fifty  oblong  houses,  each  fifty  feet  in  length  by  twelve  or  fif- 
teen in  breadth,  built  of  wood  and  covered  with  bark.  Each 
house  contained  small  chambers  built  round  an  open  court  in 
the  centre,  in  which  many  fires  were  Kindled.  Tlie  inhabitants 
were  devoted  to  husbandry  and  iishing,  and  the  lands  in  the 
vicinity  were  well  cultivated."  ' 

According  to  the  history  of  Cartier's  voyage,  the  Indians  of 
Hochelaga — now  Montreal — were  unusually  civilized,  for  bar- 
barians, and  greatly  in  advance  of  their  nation  a  century  after- 
wards; but  in  1600  no  trace  of  this  village  could  be  found. 

According  to  their  own  traditions  the  people  of  the  Six 
Nations  originally  came  from  the  north,  but  they  date  the 
period  of  their  migration  a  long  number  of  centuries  back. 
Cusick,  the  Tuscarora  author — and  the  only  Indian  who  has 
written  upon  the  subject — dates  the  event  more  than  five  hun- 


■I 


3 


12 


TirK   LIVES   OF    POmiAC   AND   TECUMHKIi: 


H 


dred  years  before  the  discovery  by  Columbus,  but  his  writings 
are  not  generally  accepted.  The  tradition  of  the  Scnecas,  the 
iifth  of  the  Six  Nations,  is  that  the  original  people  of  their 
Nation  broke  forth  from  the  earth,  from  the  crest  of  a  moun- 
tain at  the  head  of  Canandaigua  Lake.  The  mountain  which 
gave  them  birth  is  called  Ge-nun-de-wah-gauh,  or  the  great 
hill,  and  for  this  reason  the  Senecas  are  sometimes  called  the 
great  hill  people,  and,  I  believe,  this  was  their  original  title. 
The  Ge-nun-de-wah-gauh  has  been  held,  by  them,  sacred  as 
being  their  birth-place.  It  was  for  many  years  the  place  of 
holding  the  councils  of  this  tribe,  and  was  the  hallowed  place 
of  their  religious  services. 

As  with  the  Senecas  so  with  all  the  tribes  of  the  Six  Nations^ 
They  have  no  written  history  of  their  origin,  nor  can  one  now 
be  produced. 

One  of  the  principal  supports  to  the  confederacy  of  the  Six 
Nations,  and  one  of  the  strongest  ties  which  bound  them 
together  was  the  system  of  totemahip.  In  the  Six  Nations 
there  were  eight  totemic  clans. 

The  Iroquois  believed  that  Taounyawatha,  the  God  of  Waters^ 
had  descended  to  the  earth  to  teach  them  the  arts  of  savage 
life.  They  claimed  further  that  this  God,  seeing  the  evils  by 
which  their  various  tribes  were  beset,  urged  them  to  form  a 
great  confederacy  for  their  comm  n  good  and  defence.  But 
before  the  people  could  be  collected  together  this  Messenger 
took  his  flight,  promising,  however,  that  another  should  be 
sent  to  instruct  them  in  the  principles  of  the  proposed  league. 
"And  accordingly,"  says  the  glowing  pen  of  Francis  Park- 
man,  "  as  a  band  of  Mohawk  warriors  were  threading  the  fu- 
neral labyrinth  of  an  ancient  pine  forest,  they  heard,  amid  its 
blackest  depths,  a  hoarse  voice  chanting  in  measured  cadence; 
and  following  the  sound,  they  saw,  seated  among  the  trees,  a 
monster  of  so  hideous  an  aspect  that,  one  and  all,  they  stood 
benumbed  with  terror.  His  features  were  wild  and  frightful. 
He  was  encompassed  by  hissing  rattlesnakes,  which,  Medusa- 
like,  hung  writhing  from  his  head;  and  on  the  ground,  around 
him  were  strewn  implements  of  incantation,  and  magic  vessels. 
formed  of  human  skulls.    Recovering  from  their  amazement, 


ilv, 


OR,  TIIK   liOKDKR   WA«H   OF  TWO   0KNTUKIK8. 


13 


the  warriors  could  perceive  that  in  the  Ynystic  words  of  the 
chant,  whicli  he  still  poured  forth,  were  couched  the  laws  and 
principles  of  the  destined  confederacy.    The  tradition  ftirther 
declares  that  the  monster  being  surrounded  and  captured,  was 
presently  transformed  to  human  shape;  that  he  became  a  chief 
of  transcendent  wisdom  and  prowess,  and  to  the  day  of  his 
death  ruled  the  councils  of  the  united  tribes."    The  last  of  tlie 
presiding  sachems  at  the  councils  at  Onondaga  inherited  from 
liim  the  honored  name  of  Atotarho.      Such,  according  to 
[ndian  tradition,  is  the  origin  of  the  great  Iroquois  confeder- 
acy.   But  if  the  reader  is  shocked  with  this  preposterous 
legend,  what  must  be  said  of  their  tradition  regarding  the 
€poch  which  preceded  the  auspicious  event  of  their  union.     In 
these  evil  days,  according  to  the  same  authority,  the  scattered 
and  divided  Iroquois  were  beset  with  every  form  of  peril  and 
disaster.     Giants,  cased  in  armor  of  stone,  descended  on  them 
from  the  mountains  of  the  north.      Huge  beasts  trampled 
down  their  forests  like  fields  of  grass.     Human  heads,  with 
streaming  hair  and  glaring  eyeballs,  shot  through  the  air  like 
meteors,  shedding  pestilence  and  death  throughout  the  land. 
The  waters  of  Lake  Ontario  were  troubled.    From  the  bosom 
of  the  boisterous  lake  a  horned  serpent  of  mighty  size  rose  up 
almost  to  the  clouds.    The  people  fled  from  before  his  awful 
presence,  and  would  not  have  escaped  his  open  jaws  had  not  the 
thunder  bolts  of  the  skies  driven  him  down  into  his  watery 
home  at  the  bottom  of  the  lake.     Around  the  infant  Seneca  vil- 
lage on  Mount  Genundewahguah,  already  spoken  of,  a  two- 
headed  serpent  coiled  himself,  of  size  so  monstrous  that  the  per- 
ishing people  could  not  ascend  his  scaly  sides,  and  perished  in 
multitudes.    At  length  the  monster  was  mortally  wounded  by 
the  magic  arrow  of  a  child,  and,  writhing  in  the  agonies  of 
death,  he  uncoiled  himself  from  the  mountain  home  of  the 
Senecas,  and  rolled  into  the  lake  below,  lashing  its  black  waters 
into  a  bloody  foam,  and  allowing  the  few  remaining  wretched 
Indians  to  flee  from  the  place  of  their  long  and  disastrous  con- 
finement.     The  serpent  sank  to  the  bottom  of  thje  lake,  and 
disappeared  forever. 

According  to  the  fancy  of  the  Iroquois,  the  Spirit  of  Thun- 


i: :  I' 


14 


THE  LIVES  OF   PONTIAO   AMD  TECUMSEIi: 


der  dwelt  under  the  Fulls  of  Niagara,  and  when,  amid  the 
blackening  shadows  of  the  approaching  etorm,  or  the  sharp, 
quick  flaslies  of  the  lightning,  they  heard  his  broad,  deep  voice 
peal  along  the  heavens,  they  "  hid  themselves  from  the  face  of 
the  angry  Spirit."  ^ 

These  legends,  although  unworthy  of  much  cons'deration, 
are  grand  evidences  of  the  superior  intellectual  powers  of  the 
people  of  the  Six  Nations.  It  is  true  that  their  imaginations 
were  assisted  by  the  dismal  voice  of  the  wind,  the  unfathoma- 
ble darkness  of  the  gathering  thunder  storm,  or  the  low,  deep 
sound  of  the  tossing  lake  waters;  but,  even  in  view  of  these 
mysteries,  their  traditions,  when  compared  with  those  of  other 
nations,  grandly  demonstrate  the  power  and  capacity  of  the 
Iroquois  mind.  But  with  all  their  intellectual  superiority,  the 
arts  of  life  among  them  had  made  no  advance  from  a  barbarous 
condition.  Their  implements  of  war,  and  other  products  of 
their  genius,  were  not  very  flattering  to  them.  There  was  a 
rough,  unflnished  appearance  to  everything  artificial  around 
them.  Their  huts,  pottery  and  the  conveniences  of  life  com- 
bined to  attest  their  untidy  inactive  genius.  Although  behind 
their  race  in  these  things,  they  were  largely  in  advance  of  it  as 
husbandmen.  Their  beautiful  fields  of  Indian  corn  and  squashes 
and  the  ancient  apple-orchards  which  grew  around  their  settle- 
ments, captivated  the  invading  army  of  Count  Frontenac 
in  1696. 

Their  dwellings  and  works  of  defense,  although  rough,  were, 
however,  well  adapted  to  their  wants,  and  were  good  evidences 
of  their  great  industry.  But  these,  which  were  scattered  along 
the  St.  Lawrence  and  around  Lake  Ontario,  were  leveled  to  the 
ground,  never  to  rise  again,  in  1687,  by  De  Konville,  and,  nine 
years,  later  by  Frontenac. 

"  Along  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk,  among  the  hills  and  hol- 
lows of  Onondaga,  in  the  forests  of  Oneida  and  Cayuga,  on  the 
romantic  shores  of  Seneca  Lake,  and  the  rich  borders  of  the 
Genesee,  surrounded  by  waiving  maize  fields,  and  encircled 
from  afar  by  the  green  margin  of  the  forests,  stood  the  ancient 
strongholds  of  the  confederacy."  The  little  villages  were  sur- 
rounded by  palisades,  and  were  otherwise  well  fortified  with 


ge»', 


OR,  TIIK   BOKDER   WAK8  OF   TAVO  CENTURIES. 


16 


were. 


nine 

hol- 
n  the 
f  the 
rcled 
eient 

sur- 
with 


magazines  of  stonos,  and  with  water  conductors,  which  were 
efficiently  used  in  the  event  of  a  fire. 

In  habits  of  social  life  the  Iroquois  were  thoroughly  savage. 
During  the  long  winter  evenings,  men,  women  and  children 
gathered  near  the  log  fires  in  tlieir  rude- huts,  and,  while  the 
cold  storm  was  beating  tlie  lonely  forest  without,  the  story- 
teller of  the  tribe  recounted  the  history  of  his  nation  and  deeds 
of  ancient  heroism.  The  curious  pipe  was  passed  from  hand 
to  hand,  and,  by  the  flickering  firelight,  each  half-naked  war- 
rior, wrought  up  by  the  superstitious  narratives  of  the  talker, 
uecmed  to  pass  the  hours  in  pleasure. 

The  war  path,  the  race  of  political  ambition,  and  the  chase, 
all  had  their  votaries  among  the  people  of  the  Six  Nations. 
When  their  assembled  sachems  had  resolved  on  war,  and  when, 
from  their  ancient  Council  House  a  hundred  light-footed  mes- 
sengers were  sent  to  the  distant  tribes  to  call  them  to  arms,  in 
the  name  of  their  great  chief,  then  from  Quebec  to  the  Caro- 
linas,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi,  thousands  of 
warlike  hearts  caught  up  the  invitation  with  glad  enthusiasm. 
By  fasting  and  praying,  by  consulting  dreams  and  omens,  and 
by  ancient  usages,  the  warriors  sought  to  ensure  victory  for 
their  arms.  When  these  singular  performances  had  been  con- 
cluded, they  began  their  secret  progress  towards  the  defenseless 
white  settlement.  Soon  followed  the  news  of  some  bloody 
massacre  which,  exaggerated  in  its  flight  from  (settlement  to 
settlement,  was  swiftly  borne  to  the  ears  of  the  older  New 
England  towns.  While  these  places  were  filled  with  excite- 
ment over  the  shocking  tidings,  the  victorious  warriors  returned 
to  their  villages  with  the  unfortunate  captives,  to  celebrate 
their  merciless  triumphs.  As  they  approach,  the  sound  of  the 
war-whoop  is  heard,  and  hundreds  of  savage  women  and  chil- 
dren run  out  with  sticks  and  stones  to  meet  the  company. 
Their  hideous  yelping,  warns  the  prisoners  of  increasing  dan- 
ger, but  they  have  no  power  to  turn  back,  and,  resigning 
themselves  to  an  awful  fate,  they  regard  a  pelting  i'vom  these 
foolish  wretches,  as  necessary  to  prepare  them  for  the  tortures 
that  must  follow.  And  now  the  black  arches  of  the  forest 
grow  blacker  as  the  smoke,  slowly  curling  upward  from  the 


!! 


16 


TIIK   MVK8  OF   l-ONTIAO   ANT)  TKOrMSKlf: 


fires  of  death,  forma  itgelf  in  clouds  nhove  them.  With  fire- 
brand and  torcli  tlie  excited  multitude  circle  round  their 
aji^onizing  victim,  until  the  bIow  tortures  have  ended  in  death, 
when  the  charred  corpse  is  thrown  to  the  dogs  and  the  cruel 
ceremony  is  ended  by  clamerous  shouts  to  drive  away  the 
spirit  of  the  captive.  Such  were  the  most  exquisite  enjoy- 
ments of  the  cruel  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations. 

Leaving  this  remarkable  people,  let  us  turn  to  the  other 
members  of  the  same  great  family.  The  Algonquin  people 
occupied  a  large  tract  of  territory  surrounding  the  Six  Nations. 
It  was  the  Indians  of  this  family  who  first  greeted  Gartier,  as 
his  little  fieet  ascended  the  St.  Lawrance;  it  was  Algonquins 
who  welcomed  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Virginia.  They  were 
Algonquins  who,  led  on  by  Sassacus,  Pequot  and  Phillip  of 
Mount  Hope,  harrassed  the  settlements  of  the  New  England 
colonies;  who  under  the  great  tree  at  Kensington,  made  the 
covenant  of  peace  with  William  Penn;  and  when  French  mis- 
sionaries and  fur-traders  explored  the  Wabash  and  the  Ohio, 
they  found  "  their  valleys  tenanted  by  the  same  far-extended 
race."  As  civilization  progressed,  they  were  driven  from  these 
eastern  strongholds,  until  only  a  few  remnants  of  their  once 
great  and  powerful  nation  were  clustered  around  the  Strait  of 
Mackinaw. 

The  Delawares  were  the  most  powerful  tribe  of  the  Algon- 
quin family.  According  to  their  traditions,  they  were  the 
parent  tribe  from  whence  sprung  all  the  other  divisions  of  this 
people.  They  were  called  Delawares,  probably  from  the  fact 
that,  when  the  European  Colonists  first  visited  that  section  of 
country,  their  lodges  were  found  thickly  clustered  along  the 
waters  of  the  Delaware  and  its  tributary  streams.  They  were, 
in  a  small  measure,  an  agricultural  people,  although  they  mainly 
depended  upon  fishing  and  the  chase  as  a  means  of  subsistence. 
As  already  mentioned,  they  had  been  subjected  by  the  fierce 
warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  when  the  Quakers  first  came 
among  them,  they  offered  but  few  evidences  of  military  skill  or 
<50urage.  But  as  civilization  pushed  them  westward,  beyond 
the  reach  and  power  of  the  Iroquois,  they  revived  their  M'ar- 
Jike  spirits,  and  were  soon  found  to  be  formidable  enemies. 


f)K,   THF.    BORDRK   WAKH  OF   TWO  CtlNTURIES. 


17 


During  the  old  French  War,  they  had  so  far  recovered  from 
the  Buppressed  condition  into  which  their  enemies  had  forced 
them,  that  tliey  resumed  the  use  of  arms,  and  while  their 
ancient  conquerors  espoused  the  cause  of  Canada,  they  became 
the  fast  and  fierce  allies  of  the  English.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  Kevolution,  they  publicly  declared  their  emancipation  from 
Iroquois  bondage,  which  was  acknowledged  by  the  Councils  of 
the  Six  Nations;  and  ever  since  that  period  they  have  occu- 
pied a  high  position  among  the  Indian  nations  of  Nortli 
America.  Indeed,  at  a  still  later  day,  when  the  Iroquois  peo- 
ple bad  disappeared  from  the  border  battle-fields,  the  American 
pioneer  settlers  found  their  most  unconquerable  enemies  in 
the  Delaware  Indians.  "  Their  war  parties,*'  says  an  eminent 
writer,  '*  pierced  the  fartherest  wilds  of  the  Rocky  Mountains; 
and  the  prairie  traveler  would  often  meet  the  Delaware  war- 
rior returning  from  a  successful  foray,  a  gaudy  handkerchief 
bound  about  his  brow,  his  snake  locks  fluttering  in  the  wind,  his 
rifle  resting  across  his  saddle-bow,  while  the  tarnished  and 
begrimed  equipments  of  his  half-wild  horse  bore  witness  that 
the  unscrupulous  rider  had  waylaid  and  plundered  some  unfor- 
tunate trapper." 

Next  in  order  among  the  tribes  of  the  Algonquin  family 
were  the  bold  Shawanoes.  At  an  early  day  they  occupied  the 
Valley  of  the  Ohio,  but  in  1672  they  were  defeated  by  the  Six 
Nations,  and  fled  to  escape  destruction.  Following  the  Ohio 
down  a  little  farther,  the  traveler  would  next  come  to  the  vil- 
lages of  the  Miamis,  and  the  Twightwees.  Their  huts  were 
clustered  along  the  banks  of  the  Wabash  and  its  branches. 
They  were  also  living  in  terror  of  the  Iroquois  when  Europeans 
'first  came  among  them,  but,  as  with  the  Delawares,  they  were 
liberated  by  the  progress  of  Colonial  power.  The  Illinois  Indi- 
ans, who  in  the  early  days  were  located  along  the  banks  of  the 
river  which  was  given  their  name,  were  also  of  the  Algonquin 
family,  and,  like  their  brothers,  were  sorely  harrassed  by  the 
Iroquois.  At  one  time  their  numbers  exceeded  twelve  thou- 
sand, but  so  complete  was  the  subjection  and  total  tlieir  defeat, 
which  they  received  at  the  merciless  hands  of  the  Six  Nations, 
that  they  were  reduced  to  a  few  small  villages.    The  Illinois 


18 


TilK    IIVKM   or    HUNTIAO    AND   TKflUMHKH : 


Indians  wore,  porha|)it,  the  most  licentiouit  and  Hlotlit'iil  Havii^iH 
of  tho  Algonquin  family.  Having  loHt  their  proHtige  at)  a 
warlike  people,  they  nought  to  gratify  their  vicious  natures  bj 
the  most  extravagant  indulgences.  They  spent  a  greater  part 
of  the  year  in  the  pursuit  of  game  with  which  the  prairies  of 
their  country  abounded  in  great  plenty,  but  there  were  seasons 
when  nearly  all  of  them  wore  gathered  together  at  their  prin- 
cipal village,  merry-making,  feasting,  and,  when  liquor  could 
be  obtained,  drinking  to  excess. 

The  Ojibwas,  Fottawatomies,  Ottawas,  Sacs,  Foxes,  Men- 
omonies  and  the  Northern  Knisteneaux  were  also  members  of 
this  great  family.  Tliey  were  scattered  throughout  the  lake 
region  in  detached  villages,  and,  in  common  with  their  kins- 
men, had,  at  an  earlier  period,  fled  from  the  eastern  country  to 
escape  the  fury  of  the  Iroquois.  The  Ojibwas,  Ottawas  and 
Fottawatomies  were  bound  togetlier  by  a  sort  of  confederacy, 
having  for  its  object  their  common  defense  and  mutual  welfare. 
The  former  tribe,  which  was  tlie  most  numerous  of  any  of  this 
confederacy,  was  located  in  the  Lake  Superior  vicinity.  They 
were  a  barbaric,  rude  people,  living  in  a  loose  and  imperiect 
state.  Hunting  and  fishing  were  their  favorite  pursuits,  and 
agriculture  was  but  slightly  encouraged.  Tliey  were,  withal, 
an  improvident,  reckless  tribe.  At  one  season  they  were  feast- 
ing, with  an  abundance  on  every  hand,  and  at  another  they^ 
werd  famishing.  Yet,  with  all  this  uncertainty  touching  their 
supplies,  they  never  manifested  a  single  prudent  trait. 

Thus  I  have  hurriedly  noticed  tlui  location  and  condition  of 
the  Six  Nations  and  Algonquin  family  of  Indians,  at  the  period 
in  which  our  narrative  opens.  The  reader  has,  no  doubt, 
already  observed  that  of  these  two  distinct  families,  the 
Iroquois  were  by  far  the  most  intellectual  and  elevated,  never- 
theless some  of  the  greatest  warriors  and  orators  belonged  to 
the  Algonquin  nation.  Even  Pontiac  and  Tecumseh,  the  sub- 
jects of  this  work,  boasted  its  blood  and  language.  A  point 
that  has  not  failed  to  elicit  attention,  however,  is  that  with  the 
advance  of  Colonial  power,  the  prestige  of  the  Six  Nations 
declined  more  rapidly  than  that  of  the  tribes  which  they  had 
conquered. 


OK,    TUB    liOKDKK    WAKtl   OV   TWO   OKmilKIICS. 


t9 


Bofore  pantiing  on  to  the  opening  uvuntH  ot'  tlit*  narrative,  I 
will  stop  to  glanco,  for  a  niotnent,  at  tlie  WyundottH  and  the 
Neutral  Nation.  Tliese  tril)08,  which  originally  belonged  to 
the  Iroquois  family,  occupied  the  peninsula  l)ctweon  Ijikes 
Huron,  Erie  and  Ontario.  The  Wyandotts  were  a  numerous 
people,  inheriting  all  the  high  qualities  of  their  brethren  of 
the  Six  Nations.  Their  numbers  at  one  time  exceeded  thirty 
thousand.  They  were  both  an  agricultural  and  commercial 
nation.  The  products  of  their  well  cultivated  corn-fields  were 
exchanged  to  a  considerable  extent,  for  the  fish  which  had  been 
taken  from  the  lakes  and  rivers  by  the  surrounding  tribes. 
Being  more  provident  than  their  neighbors,  the  Ojihwas,  they 
were  generally  well  supplied  with  the  necessaries,  and  not 
nnfrequently  called  upon,  in  times  of  want,  by  the  latter,  to 
share  their  bounties  with  them.  As  a  rule  they  responded 
with  a  generosity  that  was  truly  commendable. 

In  1649,  during  the  long  cold  winter,  when  by  their  indus- 
try and  consequent  prosperity,  they  were  lending  material 
assistance  to  the  half  perishing  tribes  around  them,  they  were 
incessantly  harrassed  and  linally  defeated  by  a  numerous  band 
of  Iroquois  warriors.  These  fierce  Indians  levelled  all  the 
principal  Wyandot  villages  to  the  ground,  and  slaughtered 
men,  women  and  children  without  mercy.  The  few  conquered 
savages  who  survived  this  onslaught,  fled  in  terror,  and  the 
whole  tribe  was  dispersed  and  broken.  Some  of  them  fled  to 
Quebec  and  others  escaped  into  the  Ojibwa  country;  but  in  1680 
they  again  united,  and  formed  a  permanent  settlement  on  the 
Detroit  River. 

The  fate  of  the  Neutral  Nation  was  not  unlike  that  of  the 
Wyandots.  The  Senecas,  a  powerful  tribe  of  the  Six  Nations, 
invaded  their  country  and  effected  an  easy  conquest.  Their 
habits  of  life  and  general  characteristics  were  very  similar  to 
those  of  the  Wyandots. 

Thus  we  have  seen  that  several  powerful  tribes  of  North 
American  Indians,  during  the  last  quarter  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  sank  before  the  arms  of  the  Six  Nations.  Their  con- 
quests extended  to  every  adjacent  tribe,  and  their  bravest  war- 
riors were  sorely  harrassing  the  infant  colony  of  New  France. 


M 


THK    IJVKH   itK    lltNTIAO    ANI»    IMniMHKIi: 


liiko  the  Six  Niitioiiit,  t\w  Alf^>ni|ii!iiii  liiul  t\mr  inythit  and 
l«'^  ihU.  }^Mnf(  luMH  intullut!timl,  howovur,  t\wy  did  n(»t  aMKiime 
tliiit  MyHttiirtatic  ty\H)  which  charactoriziMi  thoitu  ot'  thoir  vnmiiirs, 
hut  they  wure  full  of  interest  nnd  Hlmdowy  landinarkH  of  their 
hiHtory.  Hiuy  had  a  faith  more  fiiiiplo  than  that  of  the  Iro- 
quoiH  n'f^ardin^  the  ihnl  of  Tliunder,  which  iH  another  prcM»f 
of  tlieir  inferior  intellectual  Hcopu.  They  l)elieved  that  the 
thunder  waH  a  hini  who  huilt  Iuh  nent  on  the  pinnaule  of 
towering  niountainD. 

The  reli^ioiirt  faith  of  the  Indian  trilHw  already  mentioned 
was  mixinl  and  ainhij^uoUH.  They  Mield  (mmI  in  every  part  or 
feature  of  hi8  creation,  and  yet,  I  do  not  think  that  they 
believtHi  in  a  one  Alinif^hty  Heinjf,  the  (treat  Spirit,  I^ord  of 
Heaven  and  Karth,  until  the  miHrtionarioM  came  among  them; 
but  it  cannot  l)e  xaid  that  with  tluH  important  addition  to  their 
faith,  their  religiouH  worHhip  wa8  increaHed.  I  Mhould  rather 
hold  to  the  opinion  that  the  liiglieHt  intellectual  Btate  of  the 
Indian  race,  and  the  loftiest  conception  of  their  minds,  and,  aH 
a  consequence,  their  most  acce])tahle  worship,  date  hack  Iwyond 
the  advent  of  European  civilization  and  (Jhristianity.  All  evi- 
dence procurable  on  this  suhjecf  points  to  this  conclusion.  1'he 
Indians  never  could  understand  the  religious  faith  of  either 
the  (Catholic  or  Protestant  religion,  and  in  every  attempt  to 
embrace  either,  they  added  additional  testimony  pointing  to 
its  utter  inadaptability  to  their  minds.  The  heart  cannot 
embrace  a  doctrine  which  the  mind  is  unable  to  comprehend. 
"  Red  Jacket,"  the  Seneca  chief  and  orator,  at  a  later  day  set 
forth,  in  a  very  able  manner,  the  difhculties  which  the  Indian 
mind  encountered  in  attempting  to  penetrate  Christian  d«xj- 
trine,  in  the  following  words,  which  he  addressed  to  a  mission- 
ary who  had  come  to  preach  Christ  and  Him  crucified  to  the 
inhabitants  of  a  Seneca  village: 

"  Bkother:  Continue  to  listen.  You  sny  tliat  you  are  sent  to  instruct 
UB  how  to  worsliip  the  Great  Spirit  agreeably  to  His  mind,  and,  if  we  do 
not  take  hold  of  the  religion  which  you  white  peopl(3  teach,  we  shall  be 
unhappy  hereafter.  You  say  that  you  are  right  and  we  are  lost.  How  do 
you  know  this  to  he  true?  We  understtind  that  your  religion  Is  written 
in  a  book.  If  it  was  intended  for  us  as  well  as  ynu,  wliy  has  not  the 
Great  Spirit  given  to  us,  and  not  only  to  us,  but  why  did  He  not  give 


OK,   TIIK    UOKDKK    WAKX    o»    TWu   UKMIUKIM. 


•t 


to  niir  rorfil'iithun  tliu  knowlinlKu  u(  th»l  InHtk,  with  tliu  mi'ttiiH  »(  undtr- 
■UuiilinK  ll  rlKlitly  T  W«i  only  know  what  you  toll  ua  abiiut  It.  How  ahkll 
wi*  know  when  to  l>«ll«v«>,  \}v\ng  *o  often  (lucfllvrd  by  th«  while  puopUT 
You  a«y  that  thvris  U  but  ontt  way  t«>  womhlp  and  aerro  th«  Oreat  Bplrlt. 
If  thrre  U  but  oda  religion,  why  do  you  whitn  piiople  dlfTur  ao  inuoh  about 
Itr  Why  not  all  agreed,  an  yoii  can  all  read  the  aame  bookT  We  do  not 
undorKtand  thoMi  tiilnxH.  Wu  am  told  that  your  religion  waa  glron  to  your 
forofathi'm,  and  has  been  handed  down  fV«>m  father  to  ion.  We  alao  have 
•  rellfrlon,  which  ^hn  given  to  our  forerathora,  and  haa  been  handed  down 
to  UN —  their  children.  Wu  worahip  In  that  way.  It  teachoa  ua  to  bo 
thankful  for  all  the  favora  we  ritculve;  to  love  each  other  and  to  bo  united. 
We  never  quarrel  about  our  religion.  The  Oreat  Spirit  haa  made  ua  all, 
but  lie  haa  made  a  great  ditTcrence  Iwtween  hia  white  and  red  children. 
He  haa  given  ua  dltTerent  compluxiona  and  different  cuatoma.  To  you  he 
haa  given  the  arts.  To  theae  ho  haa  not  opened  our  eyea.  Wo  know  theae 
thinga  to  bo  true.  Since  he  haa  made  ao  great  a  difference  between  ua  In 
other  thinga,  why  may  we  not  concliidu  that  ho  liiia  given  uh  a  different 
religion  according  to  our  underatandingt  The  Oreat  Spirit  doea  right 
He  knowa  what  la  boat  for  hia  children.     We  are  aatiafled." 


r  i 


CUAl'TEK    II. 
Tdb  Brouiu  IK  TiiM  WHHT--l'oNriAO  Htandino  ih  Tiiaiii  Wat— !!■ 

GOMIRNTt  TO   I.RT  TIIRM   OOCtlPV   lim  ('OUNTMT  — TUK   KNOI.IIIt  TAKK 

Pom  KM  ION  or  Drtiioit. 


In  thiH  narrativu  of  tho  Border  Wan  of  tho  N^orthwo«t,  I  will 
(irst  direct  tho  roador'H  attention  to  the  events  which  occurred 
immediately  after  the  EngliHh  relieved  the  weHtorn  oiitpoBtM  of 
Canada  or  New  France.  But  this  (*un  Im;  more  acceptably  done 
by  first  pointiufj^  out  some  of  the  incidents  connected  with  the 
surrender  of  theMj  forts  by  the  French  to  their  con({uerors. 

(yanuda  liad  fallen.  The  lon;^  cherished  ho|>es  of  the  French 
to  establish  a  permanent  branch  of  Empire  in  the  New  World 
were  now  blighted,  and  their  country,  so  recently  full  of  prom^ 
ise  and  prosperity,  was  now  humbled  at  the  foot  of  the  English 
throne.  The  capitulation  was  complctcHl,  and  it  only  remained 
for  the  English  to  take  possession  of  their  conquests.  Well 
might  the  bravest  soldier  shrink  from  this  luuardous  task,  for 
many  of  the  strongholds  to  l)e  occupied  were  not  only  still  in 
the  bands  of  the  French,  but  surrounded  by  clouds  of  warlike 
savages,  ea^er  to  visit  death  and  destruction  upon  tho  enemies 
of  the  defeated  colony.  Indeed  the  Indians,  who  from  the 
beginning  of  the  Old  French  War,  had  been  the  faithful  allies 
of  the  French,  were  already  uniting  against  the  "  re<l  coats." 
They  beheld  the  approaching  ruin  of  their  race,  and  resolved 
on  the  foolish  attempt  of  driving  the  English  from  the  country. 

The  forts  yet  to  be  occupied  were  Detroit,  Michilimackinac 
and  one  or  two  others  of  less  importance  in  the  lake  region. 
It  was  on  the  12th  of  September,  1700,  that  Major  Rogers 
received  orders  from  Sir  Jetfery  Amherst  to  ascend  the  lakes 
with  a  detachment  of  rangers,  and  take  possession  of  these 

08) 


att,  wr  iM)Ror.M  WAKM  <ir  two  narrumn. 


po«U  in  till*  riHini*  «>t'  U\»  (trititmic  Mi»j«wt)r.  Aoeordingij  h« 
•ct  out  with  two  hud'lr^i  »ml<lti)t«  in  tlllnvn  wli«l<)-bo«U,  on  tht 
dny  fullowin^,  Mid,  Afliar  A  troubioMimo  journojr,  boMt  bjr 
•turuiN  nnd  )inrA»M«ci  hy  thu  aevef  iij'  of  Ui«  woatliur,  ho  roHvhud 
thu  OHHtorn  otui  of  Ldk*^  Krio.  Iloro  he  was  fiiut  by  tho  dopu- 
tiiw  of  thu  ^rtMkt  Pontittu,  ohiftf  of  tho  OttnwnM,  and  "  lord  tnd 
rnlor  of  nil  that  country."  'Dio  chiofi  onionHJ  Ilo^ort  to  halt, 
and  coiniiiandud  iiini  to  proouod  no  further  uutil  thoy  had 
recoivud  pterin iiwion  from  titeir  Ottawa  lcach>r. 

At  this  point  wu  will  turn  for  a  motninit  to  glance  at  this 
wonderful  man.  I\)ntiao  waM  tho  aon  of  an  Ottawa  chief,  and 
by  hit)  vulorouH  detnlH,  tnatchloHM  oUK)uimco  and  >(reat  force  of 
character,  hud  l)t>tu>me  exceedingly  |N>pulur  and  intluontial 
amon^  all  the  triltcH  in  the  vicinity  of  tho  grmt  laketk.  Tlie 
OttawaM,  Ojibwatt  and  PottawatomieH  were,  at  tluM  time,  unitod 
under  a  conftHlerucy  of  which  he  waa  both  civil  and  military 
leader;  but  hin  authority  extended  far  beyond  thcMo  triboH,  and 
waH  nlinoHt  unbounded  wherever  hie  voice  could  be  heard.  He 
did  not  owe  IiIh  ^reatnohs  to  the  fact  that  he  wa8  tho  Hon  of  a 
chief,  for  amon^  the  IndiaiiH  many  a  ohiefM  Mon  sinks  into 
insigniticance  among  the  common  rabble  of  iii^  tribe,  while  tho 
otflipring  of  a  common  warrior  ihay  succood  to  his  place.  Por- 
Htmal  merit  alone  can  win  the  respect  and  obedience  of  the 
ludiauH.  In  the  eyoH  of  his  numerous  followers,  no  other 
person  possessed  more  of  this  than  Pontiac.  Courage,  ro«olu> 
lion,  wisdom  and  elo(|uenco  and  good  address  had  been  Hie 
principal  paHsportn  to  his  fame  and  distinction.  His  intellect 
was  far-reaching,  forcible  and  capacious.  His  energy  and  force 
of  character,  his  great  subtlety  and  craftiness,  conspired  to 
elicit  the  greatest  admiration  and  respect  from  his  wild  and 
reckless  followers. 

Although  possessed  of  all  these  high  qualities,  Pontiac  was 
a  thorough  savage,  and,  as  we  shall  see,  capable  of  deeds  of  the 
blackest  treachery.  He  was  now  in  his  fiftieth  year,  and  in  the 
prime  of  life.  His  menttd  and  physical  powers  were  unim- 
{)aired,  and  he  stoml  forth  the  giant  of  his  tribe  in  both 
intellect  and  endurance.  In  short,  he  was  in  every  respect 
qualified  to  lead  his  savage  people  into  the  bloody  contest  which 


u 


TlIK    LIVEN   OK    I^NTIAO    AND  TKOUMBKH: 


followed.  When  deeds  of  lofty  magnanimitj  best  suited  his 
purpose,  Pontiac  could  respond  from  the  generosity  of  his  own 
nature,  while,  from  the  same  source,  he  could  supply  the  foulest 
stratagems. 

During  the  long  wars  that  had  passed,  he  had  been  the  con- 
stant friend  and  ally  of  the  French,  and  had  led  his  warriors 
to  battle  on  many  a  hard-fought  field  in  the  interests  of  this 
people  against  the  Eifglish.  He  commanded  the  Ottawa  braves 
at  the  memorable  defeat  of  Braddock,  and  in  this  contest  he 
fully  set  forth  his  rare  military  skill  and  great  craftiness.  He 
had  served  the  French  officers  in  various  capacities,  and  espec- 
ially did  he  render  them  valuable  aid  as  a  leader  of  Indian 
warriors  in  the  hour  of  their  greatest  peril.  For  these  deeds 
he  had  received  many  marks  of  esteem  from  Montcalm,  the 
brave  commander  of  the  Frencli  forces,  who  fell  while  defend- 
ing Quebec  in  1759. 

Such  was  the  man  whose  chiefs  were  now  standing  in  the 
pathway  of  the  English,  at  the  eastern  end  of  Lake  Erie. 

When  the  deputies  had  been  assured  by  Eogers  that  their 
command  would  be  respected,  they  returned  to  Pontiac,  who 
soon  after  accompanied  them  on  their  return  to  the  English 
camp.  He  greeted  Rogers  with  two  haughty  questions,  which 
were  put  in  about  the  following  language:  "What  is  your 
business  in  this  country?  How  dare  you  come  here  without 
my  permission? "  These  stern  demands  had  considerable  effect 
upon  the  Major,  but  he  concealed  his  emotions  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, and  appeared  to  be  undaunted.  His  reply  to  Pontiac  was 
that  the  French  had  been  defeated,  and  that  Canada  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  English,  and  that  he  was  on  his  way  to 
take  possession  of  Detroit,  and  restore  a  general  peace.  The 
great  chief  listened  with  attention,  but  appeared  to  be  dissat- 
isfied. His  only  reply  was  that  he  would  consider  the  matter 
until  morning,  and  then  give  them  an  answer.  He  ordered 
the  English  to  proceed  no  further  without  his  consent,  and 
then  withdrew  with  his  chiefs  to  his  own  encampment. 

A  dark  and  gloomy  night  followed.  The  rangers  had  met 
their  enemies  face  to  face,  and  now  as  the  shades  of  night  gath- 
ered about  them  they  began  to  suspect  treachery.    The  night 


3 


PONTIAC,  THE  OTTAWA  CHIEFTAIN. 


was  blac 
restless  \ 
doubled 
first  sigl 
The  nigh 
minds  ar 

With 
tlie  weal 
Pontiao  ( 
of  Roger 
English, 
as  long  a 
his  officii 
cial  office 
of  the  sf 
between  1 
It  would 
man  witL 
brought ( 
settlemen 

On  the 
western  e 
.Detroit  ri 
Detroit  \n 
hundred 
tant.  At 
for  assists 
tation  of 
peaceful  r 
and,  obed 
This  acco] 
Detroit. 

Thewh 
came  witl 
around  it. 
over  the  i 
supply  its 
his  troops 


/ 

!  ■ 


OB,  TBB  fiOKDKS   WAltS  OV  TWO  GEMTUHIKB. 


95 


was  black  and  stormy,  and  the  winds  sang  mournfully  over  the 
restless  bodies  of  the  half  perishing  soldiers.  The  guard  was 
doubled  in  numbers,  and  instructed  to  give  the  alarm  at  the 
first  sight  of  danger;  but  Bogers  was  happily  disappointed. 
The  night  passed  in  perfect  tranquility,  excepf  in  the  troubled 
minds  and  hearts  of  the  suffering  rangers. 

With  the  dawn  of  the  following  day  the  clouds  thinned  and 
tlie  weather  became  slightly  improved.  At  an  early  hour 
Pontiac  and  his  chiefs  returned.  The  chief  replied  to  the  words 
of  Sogers,  saying  that  he  was  willing  to  live  at  peace  with  the 
English,  and  would  suffer  them  to  remain  in  his  country  only 
a8  long  as  they  treated  him  with  the  respect  and  courtesy  which 
his  official  station  demanded.  The  Indian  chiefs  and  Provin- 
cial officers  then  smoked  the  calumet  together,  and  to  the  eye 
of  the  spectator  a  perfect  harmony  seemed  to  be  established 
between  them.  But  alas  I  it  was  doomed  to  a  short  existence. 
It  would  have  been  well  had  the  English  treated  this  powerful 
man  with  more  respect;  for  by  enraging  him  with  insult,  they 
brought  an  avalanche  of  savage  warriors  upon  their  defenseless 
settlements. 

On  the  lifteenth  of  November  the  detachment  reached  the 
western  end  of  Lake  Erie,  and  encamped  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Detroit  river.  Here  they  were  informed  that  the  Indians  of 
Detroit  were  in  arms  ready  to  give  them  battle,  and  that  four 
hundred  warriors  lay  in  ambush  not  more  than  half  a  mile  dis- 
tant. At  this  juncture  Eogers  turned  to  his  new  made  friend 
for  assistance.  He  requested  Pontiac  to  send  forward  a  depu- 
tation of  his  warriors  to  persuade  the  Indians  to  extend  a 
peaceful  reception  to  the  English.  The  great  chief  complied, 
and,  obedient  to  his  word,  the  savages  abandoned  their  designs. 
This  accomplished  the  rangers  continued  their  course  towards 
Detroit. 

The  whale-boats  passed  slowly  up  the  river  until  the  rangers 
came  within  full  view  of  the  little  fort  and  the  Indian  villages 
around  it.  They  could  see  the  French  flag  waving  in  the  breeze 
over  the  ramparts  of  the  fort,  and,  no  doubt,  they  felt  eager  to 
supply  its  place  by  the  Cross  of  St.  George.  Rogers  landed 
his  troops  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  pitched  his 


51 


THK   LIVES    OF    PONTIAO   AND   TKOUMBKH: 


tents  upon  the  meadow.  He  then  crossed  the  river  with  two 
cfiicers  and  a  few  soldiers,  and  summoned  the  French  garrison 
to  surrender.  In  obedience  ''  the  soldiers  detiled  upon  the  plain, 
and  laid  down  their  anus."  Tlie  English  flag  was  now  unfolded, 
and  in  a  few  moments  the  British  were  in  full  possession  of 
Detroit. 

The  Indians,  to  the  number  of  nearly  two  thousand,  wit- 
nessed this  singular  transfer  with  wonder  and  amazement. 
Why  so  few  Englishmen  should  thus  quietly  disarm  so  many 
Frenchmen,  was,  to  their  savage  minds,  a  question  not  easily 
solved.  To  say  the  least,  it  was,  in  the  Indian's  way  of  viewing 
it,  a  grand  demonstration  of  English  prowess.  The  surrender 
had  scarcely  been  completed  when  all  the  savages  present  sent 
up  a  burst  of  triumphant  yells,  as  if  to  declare  that  their  sym- 
pathies were  already  with  the  conquerors. 

Rogers  took  possession  of  Detroit  on  the  29th  day  of 
November,  1760.  The  French  garrison  was  sent  down  the 
lake  as  prisoners,  while  the  Canadian  inhabitants  were  allowed 
to  enjoy  peaceful  possession  of  their  farms  and  dwellings  on 
the  condition  of  swearing  allegiance  to  the  British  crown. 
Forts  Miami  and  Onatauon  were  next  relieved,  but  Michili- 
mackinac  and  the  adjacent  posts  were  so  far  distant  that,  owing 
to  the  advanced  season,  they  remained  in  the  hands  of  the 
French  till  the  following  spring,  when  a  small  detachment  took 
possession  of  them,  and  thus  completed  the  work  assigned  to 
Major  Rogers. 

The  English  were  now  in  full  possession  of  their  conquests, 
the  Indians  alone  remaining  to  dispute  their  possessions. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Thb  W1LOBRNB88  ANP  ITS  Inhabitants  at  thk  Close  op  thr  Fbbkob 
War— Tkavkl  and  Adventure— The  Outposts  of  CnniiiSATiON— 
The  Highways  op  the  Wilderness. 


H 


Evert  reader  of  American  history  will  remember  that,  after 
the  defeat  of  Braddock,  the  western  tribes  of  Indians  rose 
unanimously  against  the  English.  They  had  come  to  regard 
the  "  red  coats  "  as  intruders,  and,  misguided  by  the  French, 
they  believed  the  English  had  formed  a  design  to  drive  them 
from  the  country.  And  now  that  their  enemies  had  possessed 
themselves  of  Canada  and  the  western  outposts,  the  savages 
began  to  discern  the  approaching  ruin  of  their  race.  It  was 
at  this  period  that  the  frontier  settlements  of  Pennsylvania 
felt  the  scourge  of  Indian  war.  The  onslaught  extended  into 
Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  a  wide-spread  havoc  desolated  the 
border  settlements.  During  the  whole  summer  and  autumn 
of  1T55  the  slaughter  raged  with  increasing  fury.  The  west- 
ern forests  appeared  to  be  alive  with  infuriated  warriors,  and 
day  after  day,  and  week  after  week,  scalping  parties  sallied 
forth  from  its  pathless  depths,  murdering  women  and  children 
without  mercy.  The  log  cabin  of  the  hard  working  pioneer 
disappeared  in  smoke  and  flame,  while  the  frightened  inmates, 
in  attempting  to  escape  the  raging  element,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  blood-thirsty  savages.  Thus  continued  the  awful  work 
of  death  and  devastation,  until,  in  1756,  the  Indians,  under 
various  influences,  laid  down  the  hatchet.  In  the  following 
year  a  treaty  of  peace  was  concluded  between  these  Indians 
and  the  colonists,  which  also  had  a  good  result.  This  treaty, 
however,  did  not  embrace  the  Indians  of  the  Ohio,  who  com- 
prised many  of  the  bravest  Delaware  and  Shawanoe  warriors, 
and  who  still  continued  their  murderous  assaults  until  1758,, 

(27) 


3 


TIIK   UVICB  OK   PONTIAO   AND  'FKCimtKH: 


I       i 


when,  heuring  of  the  advance  of  Genoral  Forbes,  and  seeing 
that  the  French  cause  was  utterl^r  hopeless  they  accepted  terms 
of  peace.  The  Six  Nations,  however,  were  still  unfriendly. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  they  hud  manifested  some  signs 
of  friendship,  but  the  disasters  which  had  attended  the  first 
campaign  gave  them  a  very  poor  idea  of  British  prowess. 
They  became  still  more  dis^'usted  with  the  English,  when,  on 
the  following  year,  they  beheld  their  defeat  at  Oswego.  It  is 
said  that  many  of  them  fought  with  the  French  in  tliis  battle. 
But,  fortunately,  success  favored  the  English  in  the  succeeding 
contests.  Du  Quesue  and  Louisburg  were  taken,  and  the  fierce 
Iroquois,  seeing  these  achievements,  went  over  to  tlie  side  of 
the  conquerers,  and  from  that  day,  fought  in  the  interests  of 
the  English.  This  was  one  of  their  greatest  mistakes,  for, 
with  the  fall  of  Canada  tlieir  doom  was  sealed.  They  no 
longer  held  the  balance  of  power  between  the  rival  colonies, 
and,  being  lightly  regarded  as  allies,  they  were  left  to  their 
own  limited  resources.  The  numerous  tribes  of  the  west, 
however,  arrayed  themselves  on  the  side  of  the  French,  and 
fought  in  the  interests  of  Canada  through  the  whole  war.  At 
its  conclusion  they  retired  into  the  forests,  where  they  remained 
inactive  until  called  to  battle  by  the  voice  of  the  mightiest  of 
warriors — Pontiac,  the  Ottawa  chief. 

And  now,  before  entering  upon  an  account  of  that  terrible 
contest,  the  Pontiac  War,  which  makes  the  first  part  of  our 
narrative,  it  will  be  proper  to  glance  at  that  vast  country  which 
the  Indians  had  resolved  to  wrest  from  the  hands  of  their 
enemies.  "  One  vast,  continuous  forest,"  says  Francis  Park- 
man,  "  shadowed  the  fertile  soil,  covering  the  land  as  the  grass 
covers  the  garden  lawn,  sweeping  over  hill  and  hollow,  in  end- 
less undulation,  burying  mountains  in  verdure,  and  mantling 
brooks  and  rivers  from  the  light  of  day.  Green  intervals 
dotted  with  browsing  deer,  and  broad  plains  blackened  with 
buffalo,  broke  the  sameness  of  the  woodl«nd  scenery.  Unnum- 
bered rivers  seamed  the  forest  with  oLeji*  devious  windings. 
Vast  lakes  washed  its  boundaries,  where  the  Indian  voyager, 
in  his  birch  canoe,  could  descry  no  land  beyond  the  world  of 
waters.    Yet  this  prolific  wilderness,  teeming  with  waste  fer- 


OK,   THK   B(>KI>KK    WAKM   <>K   TW<*   OKM'l'KIKH. 


tility,  was  but  a  hiintinf^  ground  and  a  battle  field  to  a  few 
tierce  liordoH  of  Havages.  Hero  and  tliere,  in  Home  ricli  meadow 
opened  to  tlie  sun,  tlie  Indian  equaws  turned  tbe  black  mould 
with  their  rude  implements  of  bone  or  iron,  and  sowed  their 
scanty  stores  of  maize  and  beans.  Human  labor  drew  no 
other  tribute  from  that  inoxhaustable  soil." 

Tlie  population,  consisting  almost  entirely  of  Indians,  was 
so  thin  and  scattered  that  sometimes  one  might  travel  for 
whole  weeks  without  meeting  a  human  form.  Kentucky  was 
but  a  ''  skirmishing  ground  for  the  hostile  tribes  of  the  north 
and  south;"  while  in  many  parts  of  the  lake  region  hundreds 
of  square  miles  were  inhabited  only  by  wild  beasts.  At  the 
close  of  the  French  War,  the  Indian  population  of  the  whole 
northwest  did  not  exceed  thirty  thousand.  Out  of  this  num- 
ber there  were  not  more  than  ten  thousand  fighting  men.  Yet 
this  army,  when  detached  and  scattered  after  the  Indian  cus- 
toms of  warfare,  was  all  that  the  English  could  master. 

The  condition  of  the  savages  had  changed,  although,  per- 
haps, it  was  but  little  improved.  Onondaga,  the  capital  of  the 
Iroquois,  where  their  council  fires  had  been  kindled  from 
time  out  of  mind,  was  no  longer  a  place  of  great  importance. 
The  ancient  council  house  of  bark  was  still  to  be  seen,  but  its 
deserted  appearance  bespoke  the  fall  of  the  Six  Nations.  Their 
other  villages  presented  a  similar  spectacle.  Everywhere  civ- 
ilization  had  worked  evil  for  the  savages.  It  was  true  that  the 
use  of  firearms  aided  them  in  the  chase,  but  all  the  advantage 
of  the  arts  could  not  atone  for  the  evils  of  rum.  "  High  up 
the  Susquehanna  were  seated  the  Northcokes,  Conoys,  and 
Mohicans,  with  a  portion  of  the  Delawares.  Detached  bands 
of  the  western  Iroquois  dwelt  upon  the  headwaters  of  the 
Alleghany,  mingled  with  their  neighbors,  the  Delawares,  who 
had  several  villages  upon  this  stream.  The  great  body  of  the 
latter  nation,  however,  lived  upon  the  Beaver  creeks  and  the 
Muskingum  in  numerous  scattered  towns  and  hamlets."  In 
each  village  might  have  been  seen  one  large  building  of  better 
style  than  the  rest.  This  was  devoted  to  festivals,  dances,  and 
public  meetings. 

Along  the  Sciota  were  the  lodges  of  the  Shawanoes.     To  the 


S 


ao 


THK   I.rVKB  or   mNTTAO   AND   TEdlTMHKH: 


westward,  along  the  banks  of  tht^  Wabash  and  tlio  Mauniee 
dwelt  the  MianiaH.  The  Illinois  wore  scattered  and  degraded. 
Having  early  met  the  French  traders,  they  became  addicted  to 
the  habit  of  drinking,  and  soon  Hank  from  their  native  purity 
into  a  wretched  degeneracy.  Tliere  was  no  tribe  in  the  whole 
lake  region  which  adapted  itself  to  the  customs  of  civilization 
with  better  results  than  the  Wyandot  family.  At  this  time 
tlieir  villages  along  the  Detroit,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  San- 
dusky, presented  a  clean  and  tidy  a[)pearance.  They  were 
husbandmen  of  considerable  industry,  and  their  name  ranked 
high  in  war  and  ])olicy. 

The  English  settlements  were  scattered  along  the  eastern 
seaboard  on  a  narrow  strip  of  land  bordered  on  the  west  by  a 
dense  forest.  At  this  time  Albany,  N.  Y.,  was,  by  far,  the 
largest  frontier  town.  It  was  from  this  place  that  traders  or 
soldiers  bound  for  the  lake  region,  or  the  wilds  of  the  great 
west,  set  out  on  their  hazardous  journey.  These  hardy  adven- 
turers would  embark  in  a  canoe,  ascend  the  Mohawk,  pass  the 
old  Dutch  town  of  Schenectady,  Fort  Hunter  and  Fort  Herki- 
mer, finally  reaching  Fort  Stanwix,  at  the  head  of  the  river 
navigation.  They  would  then  pass  overland  to  Wood  creek, 
carrying  their  canoes.  Here  they  would  embark,  and  by  fol- 
lowing its  winding  course,  arrive  at  the  Royal  Blockhouse.  At 
this  point  they  entered  the  waters  of  the  Oneida.  Crossing 
its  western  extremity,  and  passing  under  the  wooden  ramparts 
of  Fort  Brewerton,  they  would  descend  the  river  Oswego,  to 
the  town  of  the  same  name,  on  the  banks  of  Lake  Ontario. 
Here  the  vast  navigation  of  the  lakes  would  be  open  before 
them. 

The  principal  trail  from  the  middle  colonies  to  the  Indian 
country  waa  from  Philadelphia  westward,  mounting  the 
Alleghanies,  and  descending  to  the  valley  of  the  Ohio.  As 
soon  as  peace  had  been  established,  after  the  war  between  the 
colonies,  adventurous  fur  traders  hastened  over  the  mountains, 
hoping  to  become  rich  in  the  traffic  of  the  wilderness  markets, 
and  forgetting  the  dangers  with  which  they  were  surrounding 
themselves.  These  pioneer  merchants  would  transport  their 
merchandise  on  the  backs  of  horses,  threading  the  forests  and 


il?^ 


OK,  THR    BOKDKR    WAKM   OF  'WIU  CKNTUKIRK. 


a( 


fording  streainii  for  many  iiiilcH  into  tlit>  unknown  wildurnefiit 
of  the  Indian  country.  They  were  a  rough,  bold,  yet  happy 
net  of  men,  and  often  vm  tivrce  and  as  fond  of  war  and  adveo- 
tiiru  HS  the  savages  themselves.  Tlioy  wore  but  little  dross.  A 
bliinkot  coat,  or  a  frock  of  smoked  deer  skin,  a  riHe  on  the 
shoulder,  and  a  knife  and  tomahawk  in  the  belt,  formed  their 
ordinary  equipment.  The  principal  trader,  "the  owner  of  the 
Miurchandise,  would  iix  \m  headquartern  at  some  large  Indian 
town,  whence  he  would  dispatch  his  subordinates  to  the  sur- 
rounding villagcM,  with  a  suitable  supply  of  blankets  and  red 
cloth,  guns  and  hatchets,  liquor,  tobacco,  paint,  beads  and 
hawk's  bills."  This  traffic  was  attended  with  every  descrip- 
tion of  irregularity.  Rivalism,  robbery  and  murder  were  fre- 
quent results;  and,  when  it  is  considered  that  these  adventurers 
were  in  a  country  wliere  neither  law  nor  jnorals  had  any  foot- 
hold, such  conduct  will  hardly  be  wondered  at. 

A  visit  to  the  more  remote  tribes  of  the  Mississippi  valley 
was  attended  with  still  greater  risk.  No  Englishman,  how- 
ever, attempted  this  hazardous  journey  without  losing  his 
scalp,  until  several  years  after  the  conquest  of  Canada.  The 
traveler  bound  to  this  region  generally  descended  the  Ohio  in 
a  canoe.  "  He  might  doat,"  says  Francis  Parkman,  "  for  more 
than  eleven  hundred  miles  down  this  liquid  highway  of  the 
wilderness,  and,  except  the  deserted  cabins  of  Logstown,  a 
little  below  Fort  Pitt,  the  remnant  of  a  Shawnoe  village  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Sciota,  and  an  occasional  hamlet  or  solitary 
wigwam  along  the  luxuriant  banks,  he  would  discern  no  trace 
of  human  habitancy  through  all  this  vast  extent."  The  body 
of  the  Indian  population  lay  to  the  north  on  the  tributaries  of 
tiiis  river,  but  scattering  war  parties  were  often  to  be  encoun- 
tered in  this  region.  Tlie  traveler  needed  to  exercise  the 
greatest  caution.  If,  perchance,  he  observed  the  blue  smoke 
curling  above  the  green  bosom  of  the  forest,  betraying  the 
camping  ground  of  some  war  party,  his  light  canoe  was  drawn 

I  into  some  hiding  place  on  the  bank  of  the  river.      When 
darkness  closed  in,  the  adventurer  would  again  embark  and 

[float  along  in  safety. 

In  the  southern  portion  of  the  present  state  of  Illinois  were 


>l 


TUK  UVBM  or   I^IMTUO   AND  TKOUMMIlH: 


to  be  Mon  the  old  French  outpoflta,  Kiutkaskia,  ( 'ahokift  and 
ViiiuonnoH.  From  the  latter  the  travuler  could  paddle  his 
canoe  up  the  Wabash  until  he  reauhwl  the  little  village  of 
Ouatauon.  From  this  point  a  trail  le<l  through  the  forest  to 
the  Maumee,  where  stood  Fort  Miami.  This  is  the  spot  where 
Fort  Wayne  was  afterwards  built.  From  this  Fort  the  trav- 
eler might  descend  the  Maumee  river  to  Laku  Krie.  Here  he 
would  have  Sandusky  on  the  right,  or,  further  north,  through 
the  strait  of  Detroit,  he  would  pass  Fort  Detroit,  and  enter 
the  watery  wastes  of  the  northern  lakes.  Farther  east,  beyond 
the  Alleghany,  were  Forts  Presque  Isle,  Le  \heui'  and 
Venango. 

I  have  thus  briefly  pointed  out  the  western  outpostH  of  civil- 
ization as  they  were  to  be  found  soon  afUir  the  conquest  of 
Canada,  or  at  the  commencement  of  th>)  Vontiac  War.  We 
will  now  glance  at  the  Indians  in  their  military  capacity,  and 
lee  to  what  extent  they  were  prepared  to  prosecute  the  war 
into  which  they  were  about  t(j  plunge. 


.CHAPTER    IV. 

TnK  Imdunm  Preparinu  ruH  War— Fontiao  amo  Hm  Amhamauor* 
—  Tub  Councii.  atthk  Hivkh  EcoRCKa— Flam  rou  tub  Kbouotion 
or  Dbthoit— TiiK  Conbpiracy. 

Altiio!?oh  the  Inrlinns  of  the  Nortliwest  were  poorly  qual- 
ified to  en^nge  in  a  wnr  with  the  EngliBJi,  they  Imd  good  reasons 
for  commencing  it.  A  dotbat  could  not  be  much  worse  than 
the  insults  to  which  they  were  every  day  subjected,  and  to  stand 
quietly  by  and  see  their  best  hunting  grounds  invaded  by  English 
settlers,  was  not  to  be  endured  by  Indian  warriors  who  could 
boast  as  brave  and  sagacious  a  leader  as  Pontiae.  The  French 
missionaries  and  fur-traders  who  had  formerly  come  among 
them,  gave  but  little  cause  for  alarm.  These  adventurers  were, 
for  the  most  part,  satislied  with  the  proceeds  of  a  traffic  with 
the  savages,  or  with  telling  them  the  story  of  the  Cross;  but 
it  was  not  so  with  the  English.  He  was  essentially  a  husband- 
man, and  for  half  a  league  around  his  little  hut  he  claimed 
exclusive  rights  to  the  resources  of  the  territory.  When  the 
Indian  invaded  these  limits,  he  was  treated  with  a  haughty 
opposition,  and  ordered  away.  Thus  the  red  men  beheld  the 
rapidly  approaching  ruin  of  their  race,  and  hastened  to  avert 
it.  Pontiae,  whose  penetrating  mind  could  reach  fartherest 
into  the  annals  of  coming  events,  warned  those  around  him 
of  the  danger  of  allowing  the  English  to  make  permanent  80t- 
tlements  in  their  country,  and  counseled  the  tribes  to  unite,  in 
one  great  effort,  against  their  common  foe.  He  did  not  siip- 
port  the  common  idea  which  prevailed  among  the  infuriated 
Indians,  of  driving  the  English  into  the  Atlantic  ocean,  for  he 
well  knew  their  military  skill  and  power;  but  being  persuaded 
by  the  French  that  the  King  of  France  was  at  that  time 
advancing  up  the  St.  Lawrence  with  a  mighty  army,  he  resolved 
8  (88) 


h 


!! 


84 


TIIK    I.rVWI   or   l-ONTUr   ktfV  mTMHKM: 


to  loiwl  hilt  wnrriont  to  hattlo  with  h  vi«w  u»  n^toring  th« 
French  (N)Wt)r  in  (/unudu,  and  to  ch('<'k  tlie  KtigliHh  in  their 
pro^ruiw  wt*Htwnnl. 

Ik'Holvi'd  on  thiM  oonrfio,  Pontine,  ut  thi»  cIohu  of  the  ymr 
17((2,  Kent  out  iloputivii  to  nil  th«'  triUtii.  "They  viitito<l  tho 
country  of  thtt  Oiiio,"  myn  i'iirktnim,  "  puHHod  nort  hwitrd  to  tlio 
rugion  of  the  (FpiMtr  LuIcuh,  iind  thu  wild  bordiTK  of  tho  rivi>r 
OttawH,  und  fur  rtouthward  to  the  mouth  of  tlivi  MiMiitMippi, 
Ikuring  with  tiu'in  the  l>ult  of  wainpuni,  hroad  and  long  aH  the 
iinportanou  of  tlin  nioHsafj^u  duniand«Hl,  and  tliu  tomahawk 
stained  red  in  token  of  war,  thuy  w«>nt  from  camp  to  camp, 
and  villago  to  villa^^  Whtm^vor  they  ap|M>ar«d  tlio  ttachcms 
and  old  luv.u  ariH(>tnl>lea  to  hoar  the  wordx  of  tUugivat  Pontiac. 
Then  the  head  ciiiof  of  tliu  emhartny  Hung  down  the  tomahawk 
on  the  ground  before  them,  and  holding  the  war  l)olt  in  hit 
hand,  dolivorod  with  veiioment  goHture,  wonl  for  word,  the 
Bpeech  with  which  he  was  charged."  Kvervwliere  the  Hpeech 
wati  received  with  approval,  the  hatchet  taken  up,  and  the 
auditors  utood  pledged,  according  to  tho  Indian  custom,  to  aid 
in  tho  projected  war. 

llio  onslaught  wax  to  begin  in  the  following  month  of  May. 
Each  trilM)  was  to  surpriHo  the  garrison  in  his  own  immediate 
neighborhood,  slaughter  tho  s«>ldiers,  aii/d  then  with  a  united 
effort  all  were  to  turn  agninnt  the  dofenMelesB  fVontier  settle- 
ments. 

The  reader  will  here  be  anxious  to  know  the  names  of  those 
nations  who  thus  eagerly  united  under  Pontiac  against  the 
English.  With  a  few  unimportant  exceptions,  they  comprised 
the  whole  Algonquin  family,  the  Wvandots,  the  Senecas,  and 
several  tril)eH  of  tho  lower  Mississippi.  Of  the  Six  Nations, 
tho  Senecas  wore  the  only  nation  who  joined  in  the  league, 
riie  other  five  nations  remained  neutral,  it  is  said,  through  the 
timely  influence  of  Sir  William  Johnson. 

Although  on  the  very  eve  of  an  outbreak,  the  savages  con- 
uealed  their  design  with  impenetrable  secrecy.  Tliey  continued 
to  visit  the  various  forts,  and  to  solicit  tobacco,  amunition  and 
whisky  in  their  usual  manner.  Now  and  then,  enraged  by 
English  insolence,  they  would  threaten  the  officers  with  the 


OH,   TMK    IIOKDKK    WARM  or  TWO  (IKNTimiia. 


Appnmching  iUll^:lltnr,  but  boyond  thU,  and  with  m  tiiif^lt 
ux(t!pfiiMi,  tli«i  ^gr^^Ht  cormpiraoy  wm  nnknowti  to  tho  English 
until  if  *MirMt  t'orlh  in  duath  and  dovaatation.  "On  one  ooo*> 
■ioiu"  m  yH  thi<  Miithor  from  whom  I  havo  juHt  quoted,  "the 
plot  waa  nearly  (llMuivortKl.  Karly  in  March,  17((8,  Kniign 
IIoliiMtA,  commniidiiif(  at  Fort  Miami,  waM  told  hy  a  friendly 
Indian,  that  t\w  warriors  in  a  iMMghborin^  village  had  latuly 
rociiiviHl  a  war  hnit,  with  a  muHHagu  urging  thorn  to  doHtroy 
liitn  and  IiIh  garriHtin,  and  that  thin  th«y  woru  pruparing  to  do." 
Tlio  commandant  Hummoni)d  tho  IndianH  together  and  o|H)nly 
ciiargtxl  thom  with  tlinir  denign.  Thoy  oonfoHMHl  to  thu  truth- 
fulness of  the  ro|M)rt,  deolart^  that  tho  plot  had  origitiated 
with  a  neighboring  tril)o,  and  promiHod  to  abandon  it.  Molmea 
coinmunicatonl  information  of  thin  affair  to  Major  (i^ladwyn  of 
Detroit,  who  regarded  it  merely  in  the  light  of  an  ordinary 
Indian  outbrtiak,  and,  Intlieving  tliat  it  would  H4M)n  paHrtaway,  he 
took  no  notice  of  it.  With  ttie  approai^h  of  Hpring,  the  Indi- 
ans, returning  from  the  ohaHO,  began  to  congregate  in  Htnall 
parties  around  the  differimt  fortfl.  Tliey  wore  unusnally 
roHcrved,  seldom  going  into  the  forts,  and  encamping  a  short 
distance  from  them,  in  the  edges  of  the  wo(»ds.  They  wore 
now  rapidly  preparing  to  strike  the  blow  so  long  meditated  by 
Pontiac,  and  the  liour  of  treachery  and  massacre  was  nigh. 
They  were  by  no  means  prepared  for  a  successful  war  on  their 
part,  but,  true  to  thu  Indian  character,  thoy  loved  tho  war-path, 
and  all  woro  now  anxious  to  enter  upon  it.  "  While  there  wa« 
little  risk  that  they  would  capture  any  strong  and  well  fortitied 
fort,  or  carry  any  important  position,  there  was,  on  the  other 
hand,  every  reason  to  apprehend  wide-spread  havoc,  and  a 
destructive  war  of  detail.  That  tho  war  might  be  carried  on 
with  vigor  and  effect,  it  was  the  part  of  the  Indian  loaders  to 
work  upon  the  passions  of  their  people,  and  keep  alive  the 
feeling  of  irritation^  to  whet  their  native  appetite  for  blood 
and  glory,  and  cheer  thom  on  to  tho  attack;  to  guard  against 
all  that  might  quench  their  ardor,  or  abate  their  fierceness;  to 
avoid  pitched  battles;  never  to  fight  except  under  advantage, 
and  to  avail  themselves  of  all  aid  which  surprise,  craft  and 
treachery  could  aiford."    The  English  colonies,  at  this  time, 


J 


■V 


36 


THK   LIVEfS   OK    TON'nAO    AND   TK4UIM8KH: 


I        ! 


|;    |';| 


tfl 


having  ju8t  emerged  from  a  long  and  costly  war  with  Canada, 
were  not  in  a  position  to  meet  this  Indian  outbreak  without 
Hulfering  largely  from  its  consequences.  Their  little  army  was 
disorganized,  and  there  remained  hardly  troops  enougli  to  gar- 
rison the  feeble  western  outposts  against  which  Pontiac's  war 
was  now  to  be  desperately  waged.  Sir  William  Johnson  stood 
at  the  head  of  this  inadequate  force.  He  was  then  ripe  in  mil- 
itary renown,  and,  withal,  well  qualified  for  the  task  which 
was  tlius  unexpectedly  thrust  upon  him.  "The  command," 
says  an  able  writer,  "  could  not  have  been  intrusted  to  better 
hands,  and  the  results  of  the  war,  lamentable  as  they  were, 
would  have  been  much  more  disastrous  but  for  his  promptness 
and  vigor,  and,  above  all,  his  judicious  selection  of  those  to 
whom  he  confided  the  execution  of  his  orders." 

At  this  period  the  western  wilderness  presented  an  interest- 
ing scene.  Everywhere  Indians  were  preparing  for  the  war. 
The  war  dance  was  celebrated  in  a  hundred  villages,  and  chiefs 
and  warriors,  jiainted  and  adorned,  stood  ready  for  the  onset. 
To  begin  the  war,  however,  was  reserved  by  Pohtiac  as  his  own 
special  privilege.  In  the  spring  of  1763,  his  great  conspiracy 
was  mature,  and  he  summoned  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  all  the 
tribes  in  the  newly  formed  league  to  a  war  council.  The  sachems 
met  on  the  banks  of  the  Ecorces  river,  Detroit,  near  whither 
Pontiac  had  gone  to  welcome  them.  Band  after  band  of 
painted  warriors  came  struggling  in  until  the  forest  was  alive 
with  restless  kv-^  ^/.es,  for  nearly  a  mile  up  and  down  tre  little 
stream.  Il  \ab;  .♦.-'ced,  an  import&mt  evsnt  for  the  red  man. 
At  frequent  in.'.'  als  during  tlie year  'cny  ^Hfimd,  he  iiaJ  iieurd 
the  words  of  the  great  Ottawa  viiicf,  df.  i^.'  •ret'od  by  hie  depu- 
ties. Now  they  had  met  tirlc  wor  lot  I'Ji  irar.  face  to  face.  He 
who,  through  his  diligent  ambassaJ.orB  liad  united  all  the  tribes 
of  the  Algonquin  family  under  a  confederacy,  equal  in  demo- 
cratic scope  to  that  of  the  far-famed  Six  Nations,  was  now  to 
speak  to  many  of  his  subjects  for  the  first  time.  He  was  to  toll 
them,  in  true  Indian  eloquence,  the  story  of  their  approaching 
ruin;  he  was  to  uncover  the  selfish  policy  of  the  English,  and 
point  to  the  only  means  by  which  they  could  revive  their  declin- 
ing  prowess ;  he  was  to  stand  forth  before  his  savage  auditors 


OB,    THE   BORDER   WARS   OF    l-WO    CENTURIKW. 


37 


and  verity,  by  matchless  power  of  word  and  gesture,  the  thril- 
ling story  of  his  greatness,  which  had  been  passed  from  village 
to  village  on  the  tongues  of  his  light-footed  messengers;  he 
was  this  day  to  prove  himself  the  mightiest  among  a  thousand 
haughty,  jealous  savage  warriors.  Truly,  the  occasion  was  an 
exciting  one  for  the  assembled  tribes.  All  waited  patiently  to 
hear  the  words  of  the  famous  Ottawa  chief. 

This  council  took  place  on  the  27th  of  April,  1763.  "  On 
that  morning,"  says  a  reliable  writer,  "  several  old  men,  the 
heralds  of  the  camp,  passed  to  and  fro  among  the  lodges,  call- 
ing the  warriors  in  a  loud  voice  to  attend  the  meeting.  In 
accordance  with  the  summons,  they  came  issuing  from  their 
cabins — the  tall,  naked  figures  of  the  wild  Ojibwas,  with  quivers 
slung  at  their  backs,  and  light  war  clubs  resting  in  the  hollow 
of  their  arms;  Ottawas,  wrapped  close  in  tlieir  gaudy  blankets; 
Wyandots,  fluttering  in  painted  shirts,  their  heads  adorned 
with  feathers  and  their  leggins  garnished  with  bells."  All 
were  soon  seated  in  a  wide  circle  upon  the  grass,  row  within 
row,  a  mighty  and  warlike  assembly.  Each  savage  countenance 
wore  an  expression  of  gravity.  Pipes,  with  ornamented  stems, 
were  lighted  and  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  until  all  had 
"  smoked  together  in  harmony." 

Then  Pontiac  came  forth  from  his  lodge,  and  walked  forward 
into  the  midst  of  the  council.  He  was  a  man  of  medium 
height,  with  a  grandly  proportioned  muscular  figure,  and  an 
address  well  calculated  to  win  the  admiration  and  respect  of 
the  savage  heart.  His  complexion  was  rather  dark  for  an 
Indian,  and  his  features  wore  a  bold  and  stern  expression,  while 
his  bearing  was  imperious  and  peremptory.  His  only  attire 
was  that  of  the  primitive  savage — a  scanty  cincture  girt  about 
his  loins,  and  his  long,  black  hair  flowing  loosely  at  his  back — 
excepting  the  plumes  and  decorations  of  the  war  dress.  "  Look- 
ing round  upon  his  wild  auditors,"  says  Parkman,  "  he  began  to 
speak,  with  fierce  gesture  and  loud,  impassioned  voice;  and  at 
every  pause,  deep  gutteral  ejaculations  of  assent  and  approval 
responded  to  his  words." 

He  gave  a  full  and  eloquent  exposure  of  the  English  policy 
towards  the  Indians;  spoke  of  the  French  in  high  terms,  and 


z'" 


? 


38 


THE   LIVBB   or    PONTIAO    AND   TKCUM8EH: 


M       I ! 


h  ! 


contrusted  tlietii  with  the  "red  coats."  He  recounted  the 
many  insults  which  he  and  his  followers  had  received  at  the 
hands  of  the  British  commandant  at  Detroit,  and  ably  set  forth 
the  danger  that  would  arise  were  the  English  allowed  to  con- 
tinue their  settlements  in  the  West.  He  said  that  their 
enemies  had  conquered  Canada,  and  were  now  about  to  turn 
upon  the  Indians  and  slaughter  them  without  mercy.  Already 
their  best  hunting  grounds  had  been  invaded  by  their  settlers, 
and,  if  this  was  continued,  it  would  not  be  long  before  they 
would  be  crowded  from  their  homes  altogether.  Then  he  took  up 
a  broad  belt  of  wampum,  saying  that  lie  had  received  it  from  his 
great  father,  the  King  of  France,  in  token  that  he  had  heard 
the  voice  of  his  red  children,  and  was  on  his  way  to  aid  them 
in  a  war  against  the  English,  and  to  restore  Canada  to  the 
French.  When  he  had  fully  wrought  upon  their  savage  minds 
by  setting  forth  all  their  grievances  and  complaints,  and  declar- 
ing that  a  desperate  war  was  the  only  means  by  which  they 
could  be  removed,  he  addressed  himself  to  their  superstitions, 
by  telling  the  following  curious  story :  "  A  Delaware  Indian 
conceived  an  eager  desire  to  learn  wisdom  from  the  Master  of 
life;  but,  being  ignorant  where  to  find  him,  he  had  recourse 
to  fasting,  dreaming  and  magical  incantations.  By  these  means 
it  was  revealed  to  him  that  by  moving  forward  in  a  straight, 
undeviating  course,  he  would  reach  the  abode  of  the  Great 
Spirit.  He  told  his  purpose  to  no  one,  and  having  provided  the 
equipments  of  a  hunter — gun,  powder-horn,  ammunition  and 
kettle  for  preparing  his  food — he  set  forth  on  his  errand.  For 
some  time  he  journeyed  on  in  high  hope  and  confidence.  On 
the  evening  of  the  eighth  day,  he  stopped  by  the  side  of  a 
brook  at  the  edge  of  a  small  prairie,  where  he  begun  to  make 
ready  his  evening  meal,  when,  looking  up,  he  saw  three  large 
openings  in  the  woods  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  meadow, 
and  three  well-beaten  paths  which  entered  them.  He  was 
much  surprised,  but  his  wonder  was  increased  when  after  it 
had  grown  dark,  the  three  paths  were  more  clearly  visible  than 
ever.  Kemembering  the  important  object  of  his  journey,  he 
could  neither  rest  nor  sleep,  and,  leaving  his  fire,  he  crossed 
the  meadow, 'and  entered  the  largest  of  the  three  openings.    He 


OS,  THhl   BOKDEK   WARS   OF  TWO   OUMTURIBB. 


39 


had  advanced  but  a  short  distance  into  the  forest,  when  a  bright 
flame  sprang  out  of  the  ground  before  him  and  arrested  his 
steps.  In  great  amazement  he  turned  back,  and  entered  the 
second  path,  where  the  same  wonderful  phenomenon  again 
encountered  him;  and  now  in  terror  and  bewilderment,  yet 
still  resolved  to  persevere,  he  pursued  the  last  of  the  three  paths. 
On  this  he  journeyed  a  whole  day  without  inter^'uption,  when 
at  length,  emerging  from  the  forest,  he  saw  before  him  a  vast 
muuntain  of  dazzling  whiteness.  So  precipitous  was  the  assent 
that  the  Indian  thought  it  hopeless  to  go  further,  and  looked 
around  him  in  despair;  at  that  moment  he  saw,  seated  at  some 
distance  above,  tlie  figure  of  a  beautiful  woman  arrayed  in 
white,  who  arose  as  he  looked  upon  her,  and  thus  accosted  him : 
'  How  can  you  hope,  encumbered  as  you  are,  to  succeed  in  your 
design?  Go  down  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  throw  away 
your  gun,  your  ammunition,  your  provisions  and  your  clothing; 
\\  ash  yourself  in  tlie  stream  which  flows  there,  and  you  will 
then  be  prepared  to  stand  before  the  Master  of  Life.'  The 
Indian  obeyed,  and  again  began  to  ascend  among  the  rocks, 
while  the  woman,  seeing  him  still  discouraged,  laughed  at  his 
faintness  of  heart,  and  told  him  that  if  he  wished  for  success, 
he  must  climb,  by  the  aid  of  one  hand  and  one  foot  only. 
After  great  toil  and  suffering,  he  at  length  fuund  himself  at 
the  summit.  The  woman  had  disappeared,  and  he  was  left 
alone.  A  rich  and  beautiful  plain  lay  before  him,  and  at  a 
little  distance  he  saw  three  great  villages,  far  superior  to  the 
squalid  dwellings  of  the  Delawares.  As  he  approached  the 
largest,  and  stood  hesitating  whether  he  should  enter,  a  man, 
gorgeously  attired,  stepped  forth,  and,  taking  him  by  the  hand, 
welcomed  him  to  the  celestial  abode.  He  then  conducted  him 
into  the  presence  of  tt.e  Great  Spirit,  where  the  Indian  stood 
confounded  at  the  unspeakable  splendor  which  surrounded 
him.  The  Great  Spirit  bade  him  be  seated,  and  thus  addressed 
him :  '  I  am  the  Maker  of  heaven  and  earth,  the  trees,  lakes, 
rivers  and  all  things  else.  I  am  the  Maker  of  mankind,  and 
because  I  love  you,  you  must  do  my  will.  The  land  on  which 
you  live  I  have  made  for  you,  and  not  for  others.  Why  do 
you  suffer  the  white  men  to  dwell  among  vou  ?  My  children,  you 


3 


40 


TUB    LIVKS   OP    PONTIAO    AND   TKCUMSKH: 


have  forgotten  the  customB  and  traditions  of  your  forefathers. 
Why  do  you  not  clothe  yourselves  in  skins,  as  they  did,  and  use 
the  bows  and  arrows,  and  the  stone-pointed  lances  which  they 
used?  You  have  bought  guns,  knives,  kettles  and  blankets 
from  the  white  men,  until  you  can  no  longer  do  without  them ; 
and  what  is  worse,  you  have  drunk  the  poison  fire-water  which 
turns  you  into  fools.  Fling  all  these  things  away;  live  as 
your  wise  forefathers  lived  beibre  you.  And  as  for  these  Eng- 
lish— these  dogs  dressed  in  red  who  have  come  to  rob  you 
of  your  hunting  grounds,  and  drive  away  the  game — you  must 
lift  the  hatchet  against  them.  Wipe  them  tVom  the  face  of 
the  earth,  and  then  you  will  win  my  favor  back  again,  and  once 
more  be  happy  and  prosperous.  The  children  of  your  great 
father,  the  King  of  France,  are  not  like  the  English.  Naver 
forget  that  they  are  your  brethren.  They  are  very  dear  to  me, 
for  they  love  the  red  men,  and  understand  the  true  mode  of 
worshiping  me.' 

"  The  Great  Spirit  then  instructed  the  Delaware  in  matters 
of  religion,  and  bade  him  i  :turn  to  the  earth  and  tell  all  that 
he  had  seen  and  heard." 

Such  was  the  legend  with  which  Pontiac  closed  his  great  war 
speech.  All  present  listened  to  him  with  great  interest,  and 
at  its  close  each  warrior  was  eager  to  attack  the  British  fort. 
But  the  Ottawa  chief  counseled  them  to  desist  for  the  present. 
He  wished  to  establish  order  and  method  at  the  beginning,  so 
as  to  insure  success  to  their  arms.  He  told  them  that  on  the 
second  of  the  following  month  he  would  gain  admittance  to  the 
fort  at  Detroit,  with  a  party  of  his  warriors,  on  pretence  of 
dancing  the  calumet  dance  before  the  garrison;  that  they 
would  observe  the  strength  of  the  place,  and  summon  another 
council  immediately  afterwards. 

On  the  day  appointed  Pontiac,  with  about  forty  Ottawa  war- 
riors, appeared  at  the  gate  of  the  fort  and  asked  admittance 
for  the  purpose  of  dancing  the  calumet  before  the  garrison. 
At  first  Gladwyn  refused,  but,  after  considerable  hesitation,  he 
gave  his  consent,  and  the  Indians  were  admitted.  They  imme- 
diately began  the  celebrated  dance,  and  were  soon  surrounded 
by  the  soldiers  who  were  highly  amused  with  their  perform 


OK,    THE    UUKDUR    WAKH   UF   I'WO   CKNTURIKB. 


41 


aiices.  During  the  dance,  some  ten  of  the  Indians  who  took 
no  part  in  it,  walked  leisurely  through  the  fort,  observing 
everything  it  contained.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  dance,  all 
withdrew  peaceably. 

A  few  days  after,  a  council  was  held  in  the  Pottawatomie 
village.  Here  there  had  been  erected  a  large  bark  structure 
for  the  purpose  of  public  meetings,  and  in  thic  more  than  a 
hundred  warriors  seated  themselves,  and  bjgan  to  pass  the 
time-lionored  pipe  from  hand  to  hand.  Pou  :ir.c  soon  appeared 
in  their  midst.  He  addressed  himself  to  the  assemMed  chiefs, 
urging  them  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Englibh,  and  closed 
by  submitting  the  following  plan  for  the  reduction  of  Detroit; 
"  He  would  demand  a  council  with  the  commandant  concern- 
ing matters  of  great  importance,  and  on  this  pretext  he  flattered 
himself  that  he  and  his  principal  chiefs  would  gain  ready 
admittance  within  the  fort.  They  were  all  to  carry  weapons 
concealed  beneath  their  blankets.  Wliile  in  the  act  of  addrcfis- 
ing  the  commandant  in  the  council  room,  Pontiac  was  to  make 
a  certain  sign,  upon  which  the  chiefs  were  to  raise  the  war- 
whoop,  rush  upon  the  officers  present,  and  strike  them  down. 
The  other  Indians  waiting  meanwhile  at  the  gate,  or  loitering 
among  the  houses,  on  hearing  the  yells  and  firing  within  the 
building,  were  to  assail  the  astonished  and  half-armed  soldiers, 
and  thus  Detroit  would  fall  an  easy  prey."  The  plan  was 
eagerly  adopted. 


^ 


CHAPTER    V. 


A  Qlimpbe  at  Fort  Detroit  in  1708  — Tub  Conbpiracy— Thb 
Trbachkrt  of  Pontiac  — His  Plot  Uevbaled — The  Savaobb 
Baffled  — Murder  of  Enolibh  Bbttlbrb  — Tub  Bibob  Com 
MBNCBD  —  The  Abbault  —  Qladwyn  Offrhb  Pkaou  —  Pontiac 
Rbfubeb  —  Departure  of  Major  Campbell  to  tuk  Ottawa 
Camp  —  Hib  Warning. 

At  this  point  I  will  interrupt  the  narrative,  and  look  in,  for 
a  moment,  upon  the  little  trading  post  of  Detroit.  This  post, 
originally  called  Fort  Pontchartrain,  was  established  by  La 
Matte  Cadillac,  in  1701.  It  continued  to  be  a  French  trading 
post  of  considerable  importance  until  its  transfer  to  the  Eng- 
lish, when,  according  to  Maj.  Eogers,  it  contained  about  twenty- 
iive  hundred  inliabitants.  The  dwellings  in  the  settlement 
extended  for  some  distance  up  and  down  the  western  bank  of 
the  river.  In  the  centre  stood  the  little  fort,  containing  about 
one  hundred  houses,  and  surrounded  by  a  palisade.  The  settle- 
ment, at  this  time,  extended  for  nearly  ten  miles  along  the 
river,  and  presented  quite  a  tidy  and  comfortable  appearance. 
Each  dwelling  had  its  orchard  and  garden,  and  both  were 
enclosed  together  by  a  palisade  of  rounded  pickets.  Near  the 
fort  were  three  large  Indian  villages.  The  Pottawatomies  w^ere 
located  a  little  below  the  fort  on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  and 
nearly  opposite,  on  what  is  now  termed  the  "  Canada  side," 
were  the  lodges  of  the  Wyandots,  and  on  the  same  side,  at  a 
considerable  distance  up  the  river  was  the  home  of  Pontiac  and 
his  brave  warriors. 

At  the  time  of  which  I  write,  1763,  this  post  was  garrisoned 
by  British  regulars  and  Provincial  rangers.  Its  form  was 
almost  square,  and  the  palisade  which  surrounded  it  was  about 
twenty-five  feet  high.    A  block-house  was  erected  over  each 

(42) 


OK,    TIIK    liUKDKK    WAKH   OF    TWO   rKN'JUKim. 


48 


gateway.  l^Hiduu  tho  ImrruckK,  thu  only  public  buildings  were 
a  council  houue  and  a  little  church.  The  garriuun  consisted  of 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  tioldiers,  with,  i>erhaps,  half  as 
many  t'ur-traders.  Two  wniall  armed  schoonurH,  the  Beaver  and 
tiie  Gladwyu,  lay  anchored  in  the  Btream,  and  Boveral  light 
pieces  of  artillery  were  mounted  in  the  buBtions.  Such  was 
Detroit  in  the  spring  of  1703,  when  Poiitiac  and  his  wild  war- 
riors formed  a  plot  for  its  reduction. 

"On  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  of  May,"  says  Parkman,  *'a 
Canadian  woman  crossed  over  to  the  western  side  and  visited 
the  Ottawa  village  to  obtain  from  the  Indians  a  supply  of 
maple  sugar  and  venison.  She  was  surprised  at  linding  several 
of  the  warriors  engaged  in  filing  off  tlie  muzzles  of  their  guns, 
so  as  to  reduce  them,  stock  and  all,  to  the  length  of  about  one 
yard."  This  woman  reported  what  she  had  seen  to  the  settlers 
who,  in  turn,  communicated  the  information  to  Major  Glad. wyn, 
but  he  took  no  notice  of  it. 

But  according  to  trp.dition,  the  commandant  received  infor- 
mation of  the  desigii  of  Pontiac  in  another  way.  In  the 
Pottawatomie  villago  dwelt  an  Ojibwa  girl,  called  Catherine, 
who  was  very  beautiful.  She  had  attracted  Gladwyn's  atten- 
tion, and  he  had  become  very  intimate  with  her.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  sixth  of  May,  she  came  to  the  fort,  and  visited 
Gladwyn's  quarters,  bringing  with  her  a  pair  of  slippers  which 
he  had  requested  her  to  make.  She  manifested  something 
unusual  in  her  manner,  and  Gladwyn  pressed  lier  to  tell  him 
the  cause  of  it,  and,  after  great  reluctance,  she  unveiled  the 
terrible  conspiracy.  "To-morrow,"  she  said,  "Pontiac  will 
come  to  the  fort  with  sixty  of  his  chiefs.  Each  will  be  armed 
with  a  gun,  cut  short,  and  hidden  undor  his  blanket.  Pontiac 
will  demand  to  hold  a  council,  and  after  he  has  delivered  his 
speech,  he  will  offer  a  peace  belt  of  v/ampum,  holding  it  in  a 
reversed  position.  This  will  be  the  sign  of  attack.  The  chiefs 
will  spring  up  and  fire  upon  the  oflic(;r8,  and  the  Indians  in  the 
street  will  fall  upon  the  garrison.  Every  Englishman  will  be 
killed,  but  not  tlie  scalp  of  a  single  Frenchman  will  be  taken." 

Whether  this  tradition  be  true  or  false,  it  is  evident  that  the 
British  commandant  received  secret  ii  formation  on  the  evening 


44 


TIIK    I,IVE8  OK    IH»NTIA(?   AND  TK<;UMPKIi: 


H  n 


of  the  Bixth  of  Miiy,  thiit  tin  attempt  would  bo  made  on  the 
seventh  to  cupturo  tho  fort  und  slaughter  the  garrison.  Ho 
suiriinoned  tho  otHeers  to  his  room  and  told  them  what  he  had 
heard.  Tho  garrison  was  immediately  ordered  under  arnis, 
and  all  the  otii(;orH  prepared  to  spend  tlie  night  upon  the 
rampartB.  During  tho  whole  night  an  anxious  watch  was 
maintained,  but  nothing  disturbed  tho  quiet  of  tho  little  fort 
save  the  wild  Indian  yells,  as  they  were  borne  on  tho  night 
wind  from  tho  distant  Ottawa  camp-fires. 

At  an  earlier  hour  than  usual  on  the  following  jnoming,  the 
open  space  west  of  the  fort  was  thronged  with  savages.  Thoy 
had,  to  all  appearances,  assembled  for  a  general  game  of  ball. 
Warriors,  men,  women  and  children,  adorned  with  all  tho  gaudy 
finery  of  paint,  beads  and  feathers,  moved  restlessly  to  and  fro, 
while  the  principal  chiefs  and  warriors  passed  through  the  open 
gates  into  the  fort.  Presently  the  garrison  observed  a  number 
of  canoes  crossing  the  river  from  the  eastern  shore.  These 
wntained  the  great  Ottawa  leader  and  his  sixty  braves,  although 
to  the  eyes  of  the  soldiers  only  three  persons  were  visible  in 
each.  They  had  concealed  themselves  by  lying  flat  in  the  bol;- 
tora  of  the  canoes,  so  as  not  to  attract  attention. 

Tlie  garrison  now  prepared  itself  for  the  emergency.  At 
ten  o'clock,  Pontiac  and  his  chiefs  reached  the  fort,  and 
thronged  the  gateway  with  their  painted  forms.  They  were 
admitted,  for  Gladwyn  had  resolved  to  teach  tliem  that  he 
despised  their  hostility.  As  they  entered,  ranks  of  armed 
soldiers  greeted  them  on  either  side,  and  everywhere  they  could 
read  the  total  ruin  of  their  plot.  As  the  warriors  passed  along 
the  narrow  street  towards  the  council  house,  the  measured  tap  of 
of  the  drum  indicated  that  all  was  ready  within  the  fort  to  receive 
them.  Reaching  the  council  house  they  found  Major  Gladwyn 
and  his  officers  awaiting  their  arrival.  Here,  too,  Pontiac 
found  every  one  armed.  After  much  reluctance,  the  warriors 
seated  themselves,  and  their  leader  demanded  to  know  why  so 
many  persons  were  standing  in  the  street  with  their  gnvH. 
The  commandant  replied  that  he  had  ordered  the  soldiers  under 
arms  for  the  purpose  of  exercise  and  discipline. 

After  the  usual  delay,  Pontiac  rose,  and,  holding  in  his  hand 


if 


OK,    TIIK    UOKUKK    .vAKM   OK   TWO   OKN  II'KIIX 


4A 


tho  wiiinpuin  boh  with  wliiuh  he  was  to  hiive  iiuidu  the  signal, 
he  udtlresBed  Gladvvyii,  declaring  that  they  were  Mtill  friendly 
to  the  EngliHh,  and  that  he  had  come  with  IiIh  chiefs  to  '*  smoke 
the  pipe  of  i>eaco  and  brighten  the  chain  of  friendship."  The 
ofHc.ers  watched  him  with  deep  interest,  for  they  feared  that, 
although  he  knew  his  designs  had  been  detected,  he  miglit  still 
attempt  to  accomplish  them.  It  is  said  that  at  one  time  he 
niised  the  belt  for  the  purpose  of  giving  the  fatal  signal,  but  at 
that  instant  Giadwyn  made  a  slight  sign,  whereupon  a  terrify- 
ing clash  of  arms,  and  the  drum  rolling  the  charge,  sounded 
from  the  passage  without.  At  this  dreadful  moment  Fontiao 
stood  like  one  confounded.  Seeing  the  utter  ruin  of  his  plot,  he 
sat  down  in  despair.  After  the  \i8ual  pause  Giadwyn  rose  and 
made  a  very  brief  reply.  He  told  the  chiefs  that  they  should 
be  treated  with  friendship  and  protection  as  long  as  they 
deserved  it,  and  threatened  ample  vengeance  for  the  Urst  act  of 
aggression.  The  council  then  broke  up,  the  gates  of  the  fort 
were  thrown  open,  and  the  warriors  allowed  to  depart. 

Some  writers  have  censured  Giadwyn  for  not  detaining  the 
warriors,  and  in  this  way  prevented  the  terrible  war  which  fol- 
lowed, but  as  they  had  not,  as  yet,  been  guilty  of  open  violence, 
the  commandant  feared  that,  should  he  arrest  them,  the  act 
might  be  regarded  as  cowardly.  On  the  other  hand  he  was 
ignorant  as  to  the  real  nature  of  the  plot.  Regarding  it  as  an 
ordinary  piece  of  Indian  treachery,  he  supposed  the  whole  affair 
would  soon  pass  away  or  bo  forgotten. 

Pontiac,  baffled  in  his  wicked  design,  retired  to  his  own 
village.  No  doubt  the  great  chief  was  deeply  mortified. 
Nevertheless  he  was  determined  to  persevere.  He  first  attempted 
to  convince  the  English  that  the  reports  of  his  plot,  which  had 
been  carried  to  their  ears,  were  false.  For  this  purpose  he  vis- 
ited the  fort  wjth  throe  of  his  chiefs,  taking  with  him  the  sacred 
calumet,  or  pipe  of  peace.  Handing  it  to  Major  Giadwyn  he 
said :  "  My  father,  evil  birds  have  sung  lies  in  your  ears.  We 
that  stand  before  you  are  friends  of  the  English.  We  love 
them  as  our  brothers,  and,  to  prove  our  love,  we  have  come 
this  day  to  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace."  When  the  warriors  left 
the  council  room,  Fontiac  presented  Capt.  Campbell  with  this 


S! 


4d 


THK    MVKH   of     ■•►NTIAO    AND  TKfM'MHKItr 


I       i 


hi^lily-pri/.t'd  pipo,  no  doubt  hoping  to  pciHiiado  tim  command* 
unt  tliat  he  whm  Hinccn*  in  liin  uHHiirunccH  of  tri«'ti<lt<liip. 

This  ilono,  ho  witlulrcw  to  t\w  Pottawiitomio  villiigo  and 
•timmoncd  tlio  ch'ivt'n  to  Hiiotlicr  council.  Kurly  on  the  follow- 
inj(  morning,  the  ninth  of  May,  the  common  hohind  the  fort 
WHH  once  more  thronged  with  Indiann,  and  Poiitiac,  advanctin^^ 
iVom  amon^j^  the  multitu(K%  \valkt><l  up  to  the  |;ate  of  the  fort 
and  detnaii(h>d  admixHion.  The  ^ate  wm  barred  aguiimt  him. 
The  great  chief  winhed  to  know  why  he  could  not  enter,  and 
Gladwyn  re[)lied  that  as  for  bh  him  (Pontiac)  he  might  enter, 
but  the  multitude  he  had  brought  witii  liim  munt  remain  out- 
side. Being  again  thv.art«'d,  the  great  chief  turned  from  the 
gate,  and  walked  rapidly  away,  manifesting  HJgns  of  anger.  In 
a  few  momentH  the  garrison  observed  the  warriors  running,  in 
great  numbers,  towards  the  house  of  a  poor  old  English  woman, 
who  lived,  with  her  family,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  common. 
It  was  now  plain  that  the  work  of  slaughter  had  begun.  The 
enraged  warriors,  reaching  the  wretched  hut,  beat  in  the  doors, 
and  rushed  in,  as  if  eager  to  commence  their  bloody  work.  A 
moment  more  and  the  shrill  scalp  yell  told  the  story  of  the 
first  massacre  of  the  Pontiac  war.  The  flow  of  English  blood 
thus  begun,  increased  day  after  day  until  the  whole  lake  region 
was  stained  with  human  gore;.  Tlie  threatening  clouds  gn^w 
blacker.  The  anger  of  the  Indians  increased,  and  band  after 
band  of  wild,  ferocious  warriors  roved  east  and  west,  north 
and  south,  murdering  every  English  man,  woman  and  cliild 
whom  fate  brought  in  their  pathway.  The  pen  refuses  to 
describe  the  scenes  of  horrifying  massacre  which  followed. 
Death,  torture,  adventure,  hair-breadth  escape,  cannibalism, 
treachery  and  untold  suffering  make  up  the  heart  rending 
catalogue. 

Shocking  as  it  may  seem,  it  is  my  aim,  in  this  narrative,  to 
present  these  revolting  outbursts  of  indiscriminate  slaughter, 
each  in  their  turn,  as  they  appear  in  the  long,  dark  annals  of 
border  warfare. 

The  breath  had  scarcely  left  the  bodies  of  this  unfortunate 
family,  when  the  blood-thirsty  warriors,  with  bleeding  scalps 
fluttering  from  their  sides,  rushe<l  furiously  towards  the  river. 


OR,   TIIR    HOKDKK    WAKN    OK    TWO   CKNTUKIKH. 


47 


H«rp«  limping  into  their  cnnouM,  thuy  putihud  out  into  the  ttrram 
and  paddlotl  vi^orouHly  in  the  direction  of  IhI»  au  Cochon, 
where  dwelt  an  KngliHhniaii  hy  the  name  of  FiHher.  Having 
Hla>ady  ohHervod  the  danger  of  hiit  situation,  ho  hid  hiniHelf, 
and  when  the  warriorH  reached  tiie  Inhind  \u<i  \\h»  not  to  Im) 
Keen.  They  soon  drag|i;cd  him  forth  from  hia  inBceure  aho<lo, 
murdered  him  on  the  Hpot,  and,  titling  hiH  Hcalp,  they  Hent  up 
a  thousand  triumphant  yells,  which  wore  swiftly  borne  to  the 
ears  of  tlie  terror-stricken  garrison,  upon  the  lake  hroe/e. 

Tradition  relates  a  curious  tale  regarding  the  body  of  Finher. 
On  the  day  after  his  murder  several  Frenchmen  of  Detroit 
went  over  to  the  Island  and  buried  the  body.  A  few  dayg 
after  one  of  the  party  returned  to  the  8pot,  wliere  he  behold  the 
death-cold  «handi>  ot'  the  dead  man  thrust  above  the  ground  in 
an  attitude  of  euger  entreaty.  Having  once  more  buried  the 
corpse  deep  in  the  earth,  he  returned,  tilled  with  awe  and  vvon< 
der.  A  few  days  after  he  returned,  with  several  Canadians, 
and  found  the  hands  of  the  murdered  man  protruding  as 
before.  Tliey  now  hastened,  horror  stricken,  to  the  priest,  and 
related  all  that  they  had  seen.  The  good  father  hastened  to 
the  spot  and  sprinkled  it  with  holy  water,  and  performed  over 
it  the  neglected  burial  rites,  and  from  thenceforth  the  body  of 
the  murdered  Englishman  slept  in  peace.  This  tradition,  I 
believe,  was  preserved  in  the  St.  Aubin  manuscript,  and  given 
as  undoubted  truth. 

It  should  be  recorded  that  Pontiac  bore  no  part  in  these 
brutal  murders.  Seeing  his  plan  to  capture  the  fort  defeated, 
he  strode  off  from  his  warriors  towards  the  river,  in  great 
anger.  So  enraged  was  the  great  chief  that  even  his  bravest 
followers  dare  not  approach  him.  He  embarked  in  his  canoe, 
and,  with  a  few  vigorous  strokes  of  his  paddle,  he  crossed  the 
river  to  his  own  village.  As  he  neared  the  river's  bank  he 
shouted  to  the  inmates  of  the  village,  and  ail  came  quickly  out 
at  the  sound  of  his  powerful  voice.  Pontiac  pointed  across  the 
river,  and  "ordered  that  all  should  prepare  to  move  the  camp 
to  the  western  shore,  that  the  river  might  no  longer  interpose 
a  barrier  between  his  followers  and  the  English."  All  labored 
diligently  to  obey  him,  and  before  evening  everything  was 


3 


48  TiiK  i.ivioi  uy  i<uM'riAiJ  amd  iKtuMitKu: 

rtMidy  for  utnbnrkation.  Mcuinvhiln  t\w  witrriorit  vv»n<  nrriviiii; 
from  their  hloody  work  of  iiiiirdfr,  until  ul  iii;(litfiill,  iiunrl)'  nil 
hiut  rotiiriuHi. 

They  now  pru|mrt>«l  for  the  wiir-daticu.  Poiitiac,  like  n  iiittd- 
detiod  lion,  hideous  with  war  puint,  leaped  Into  the  centre  of 
the  ring,  Htid  with  thrilling  gesture  und  thundering  v«»i(!«, 
recounted  Iuh  own  nuirtial  exploitM  imd  donouueed  the  Knglioh. 
He  WRH  Hoon  joined  by  nenrly  u  thouMnnd  wild  followerM,  who, 
hy  len)>ing  and  yelping,  and  cutting  the  tiir  with  their  knivoo, 
and  relating  their  own  deedH  of  i'iivi>ry,  dettlured  thoniHelveH 
ready  to  follow  the  great  Ottaw  i  war  chief  to  hattlo  against 
the  English.  When  thi«  grand  dcnioiiHtration  was  over,  the 
work  of  moving  coinntencod,  and  when  the  morning  dawned 
tho  whole  Ottawa  village  wiih  Kiiugly  Mettled  down  on  the 
westem  bank  of  the  Detroit  river,  juHt  above  Parent'H  Cret»k, 
aftorwardti  appropriately  called  Hloody  Uiin,  on  account  of  the 
terrible  «laughter  which  it  witnenHcd. 

I^ut  tho  work  of  death  and  uuiHsacre,  meanwhile,  continued. 
Two  English  officers,  named  Sir  liobert  Diivors  and  Captain 
Kobortson,  had  been  waylaid  and  murdered  near  lake  St.  Clair 
and  thoir  scalpH  had  been  borne  in  triumph  to  the  camp  of  the 
Ottawa  chief.  With  the  news  of  this  nnisBacrc,  tho  garrison 
also  received  information  that  Pontiac  had  been  joined  by  an 
immenso  war  party  of  tho  Ojibvvas,  who  bad  come  from  Sagi- 
naw to  assist  in  the  reduction  of  Detroit.  It  was  true,  now, 
tliat  tho  war  had  really  begun,  and  Gladwyn,  fur  the  first  time, 
realized  bis  perilous  situatiim.  Every  EngliHhman  in  tho  fort, 
no  matter  whether  trader  or  soldier,  was  mnlered  \inder  arms. 
Sloop  was  banished  from  every  eye,  and  iho  nervous  com- 
mandant himself  walked  the  ramparts  throughout  the  entire 
night.  There  was  no  sound  of  alarm  until  tho  dawn,  when, 
breaking  forth  from  the  surrtninding  forests,  came  an  avalanche 
of  savage  warriors,  yelling  the  war  whoop,  naked  and  painted 
for  tho  fight.  There  was  no  time  to  spare.  Ottawas,  Ojibwas, 
Fottawatomies,  and  Wyandots,  all  had  united,  and  tlieir 
chances  of  success  were  a  great  source  of  terror  to  the  haplcsM 
garrison.  The  bullets  rapped  hard  and  fast  against  tho  palis- 
ades, as  the  soldiers  hastened  to  their  posts.     The  attack  was 


man,  name 


Ol,   TIIK    IKtRDKN    WAfW  (>f  TWO   nXNTUIinM. 


4» 


kept  up  till  iiooi),  whuii  thu  warriora,  nooin^^  thu  iitt»r  folly  of 
tlioir  titfort,  n^tiriNl,  louviii)(  tht*  f^urriMon  oncu  inort)  in  |K)Hce. 
During  tlu)  hmmauU  Hvo  inuii  wi*r(<  wouiidiMi  in  thu  tort,  wliilo 
tilt)  cnutioiiH  MHVHf^m  h»cl  itlinoMt  L>titiri)ly  <<M'a|MHl  injury, 
althougli  H  ntuudy  tiru  wuh  kt^pt  up  by  thu  HohliurM. 

(iliulwyii  huMtunutl  to  Inku  H(lvHtitu|;^  nt  tliiM  tuinporMry 
cfKHution  of  hoHtilitiuM.  KIh  ^(arriMon  whh  in  ^r(>Ht  want  of 
HupfiliuH,  und  hu  o|M«nu<l  nugutiutionii  for  a  {Rtacu  with  IVintiao. 
hopiiifi^  to  obtain  nm'uMNariuH  uiuior  eovur  of  it.  For  thin  pur> 
pu80  hu  diHpatohud  thu  intorprutur,  Ia  Uuttu,  and  two  (Janadl- 
aii8,  nauiud  GtKlfrcy  and  Cha[)uton,  to  hold  a  council  with 
I'ontiac;.  On  ruaching  tho  cunip  thu  duputation  was  rocuivud 
withgruat  kindnuHH  by  tho  Ottawa  chiof.  La  Hutto  inforinud 
liitu  that  tho  Hritiith  commandant  was  ready  to  redrotts  any 
rual  grievance  of  which  hu  might  complain.  Tlie  two  Cana- 
dinuB  labored  hard  to  di^Huade  Pontiac  from  purHuing  the  war, 
but  to  no  purpoHO.  Uo  treated  them  with  courtesy,  but  stood 
as  firm  as  a  rouk  in  his  determination  to  prosecute  the  siege. 
At  length  the  cunning  war-chief  declared  that  ho  was  in  favor 
of  a  lasting  peace,  and  desired  to  hold  a  council  with  tho  Eng- 
lishmen themselves,  with  a  view  to  this  end.  To  the  Canadi- 
ans, Pontiac's  propftsition  appeared  to  be  fair,  and  they  returned 
to  tho  fort  with  information  accordingly.  At  first  Gladwyn 
suspected  treachery,  but  Major  Gampl)oll  was  of  tho  opinion 
that  no  danger  need  be  approhonded,  and  urged  the  command- 
ant to  comply  with  the  request.  After  considerable  reluctance 
Gladwyn  complied,  and  Campbell  loft  tlie  fort,  in  company 
with  Lieut.  McDougal  and  several  Canadians,  among  whom 
was  the  interpreter  already  mentioned.  They  had  not  gone 
twenty  yards  from  tho  fort  when  they  were  mot  by  a  French- 
man, named  Gouin,  who  informed  them  that  they  were  advanc- 
ing into  tho  lion's  jaws,  but  Campbell,  once  sot  out  on  his 
mission,  would  not  return. 
4 


S 


CHAPTER   VI. 

PoKTIAO'B  ThKACHBRT  —  CaMPBRLL  AUD  McDoUOAL  made  PRIBONBBft— 
SOABCITY    OF    PnO VISIONS    IN    THK    FORT  —  PekIIX)CB    SITUATION    OF 

THE  Garrison  —  Continuation  of  the  Sieob  — Pontiao  Summons 

THE  GaRUTBON    to    SURRENDER  —  GlADWYN    REFUSES— CoMPUAINTS 

of  the  French  —  Pontiao's  Polict. 


Campbell  and  his  wmpainions  passed  up  the  river  road, 
crossed  the  little  bridge  over  Parent's  Creek,  and  soon  came  in 
full  view  of  the  Ottawa  village.  As  soon  as  the  Indians 
observed  their  red  coats  on  the  summit  of  the  little  hill  thej 
sent  up  a  burst  of  triumphant  yells,  as  if  they  expected  soon 
to  shed  more  English  blood,  and  there  can  be  but  little  doubt 
that  the  officers  would  have  been  scalped,  had  not  Pontiac 
stepped  forward,  and,  by  his  imperious  voice,  commanded  the 
savages  to  remain  quiet.  The  great  chief  advanced  and  took 
Campbell  by  the  hand  and  welcomed  him;  and  then,  turning 
round,  led  the  way  to  his  lodge,  followed  by  the  officers  and  the 
interpreter.  The  chief  halted  at  the  entrance  of  a  large  lodge, 
and,  pointing  to  some  mats  at  the  farther  end,  he  signalled  the 
officers  to  enter.  As  soon  as  they  had  been  seated  the  lodge 
was  thronged  with  warriors.  Campbell  and  McDougal  were 
now  in  the  hands  of  their  enemies;  their  lives  depended  alone 
upon  the  generosity  of  Pbntiac.  All  the  savages  present  were 
eager  to  kill  them  on  the  spot,  but  the  Ottawa  chief,  perhaps, 
remembered  that  when  he  and  his  warriors  were  in  the  hands 
of  the  garrison,  a  few  days  previous,  detected  in  their  treach- 
ery, *.hey  were  treated  in  mercy,  and  protected  from  injury  and 
insult.  The  garrison  waited,  with  much  anxiety,  the  return  of 
the  officers,  until  quite  late  in  the  evening,  when  the  interpreter 
returned  to  the  fort  with  the  information  that  Campbell  and 
McDougal  had  both  been  made  prisoners  by  Pontiac. 

(50) 


OR,   THE  BORDER   WARS  0¥  TWO  0KMTUKEE8. 


51 


The  Ottawa  chief,  resolved  on  continuing  the  war,  inaugu- 
rated a  reguhir  system.  Having  secured  the  full  co-operation 
of  the  Wyandots,  he  made  an  improved  disposition  of  his  forces. 
A  detachment  of  the  Pottawatomies  were  sent  down  the  river 
a  short  distance,  where  they  were  to  surprise  and  capture  any 
reinforcements  or  supplies  that  might  be  advancing  to  the 
relief  of  the  fort;  others  was  ordered  to  conceal  themselves 
in  the  woods  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  to  prevent  any  advance 
from  that  direction;  another  band  were  directed  to  conceal 
themselves  as  near  to  the  fort  as  possible,  and  to  shoot  down 
any  soldier  or  Englishman  who  might  expose  himself  when  no 
general  attack  was  in  progress.  This  work  of  detail  and  pre- 
paration was  continued  until  the  twelfth  of  May,  when  the 
warriors,  under  the  immediate  direction  of  Fontiac  himself, 
surrounded  the  fort  and  made  another  desperate  assault,  which 
was  continued,  without  intermission,  from  dawn  till  evening. 

Leaving  the  events  outside,  let  us  look  in  upon  the  condition  of 
the  little  garrison.  Their  commander  was  now  fully  convinced 
tliat  a  general  Indian  outbreak  had  begun,  and,  in  the^face  of 
the  danger  which  presented  itself  on  every  hand,  he  was  forced 
to  ask  the  advice  of  those  around  him.  Therefore,  on  the 
evening  of  the  twelfth,  all  the  officers  in  the  fort  met  to  con- 
sider what  course  of  action  was  best  to  adopt.  It  was  a  des- 
perate moment.  Only  the  darkness  had  forced  the  savages 
from  the  attack,  and  with  the  dawn  of  the  following  day,  the 
assault  would  be  resumed  with  increased  vigor.  Such,  how- 
ever, was  the  conviction  of  the  weary  garrison. 

Major  Gladwyn  was  a  brave  officer,  well  qualified  for  this 
emergency.  Should  the  fort  be  taken,  every  Englishman 
within  its  palisade  would  be  tomahawked;  and,  in  the  light  of 
the  probable  success  of  the  Indians  in  their  attempt  to  capture 
the  place,  it  would  seem  that  there  would  be  but  one  opinion 
in  this  council — that  of  the  expediency  of  embarking  and 
sailing  for  Niagara.  Indeed,  all,  except  the  courageous  Glad- 
wyn, advised  this  course;  but  that  officer,  although  half  con- 
vinced that  the  savages  would  succeed,  was  unwilling  to  desert 
his  post. 

But  there  were  other  considerations  of  great  importance, 


3 


69 


THK  LTVKS  OF   I^OMTIAO   AND  TROUMSKH: 


I 


!  ■    ,  :i^ 


which,  no  doubt,  had  their  weight  in  advising  the  garrison  to 
abandon  the  fort.  Their  provisions  were  nearly  exhausted, 
and,  at  the  tartlierest,  would  not  last  more  than  three  weeks. 
In  this  short  space  of  time,  since  a  multitude  of  infuriated 
warriors  had  surrounded  the  place,  there  could  be  but  little 
hope  of  succor.  Tlie  danger  of  their  situation  was  also 
increased  from  the  fact  that  all  the  buildings  within  the  fort 
*'  being  of  wood,  and  chiefly  thatched  with  straw,"  might  be 
set  on  fire  at  any  moment,  by  burning  missels. 

Perhaps  there  was  no  consideration  which  rendered  their  sit- 
uation so  desperate  as  that  the  Indians  would  make  a  general 
rush  against  the  fort  and  burn  or  cut  their  way  through  the 
palisades — a  mode  of  attack  which  would  be  sure  to  accomplish 
the  reduction  of  the  weak  fortification.  This  manner  of 
attack  was,  however,  foreign  to  every  maxim  of  Indian  war- 
fare. 1 

Resolved  to  defend  the  fort  while  defence  was  possible, 
Gladwyn  made  the  best  possible  disposition  of  his  little  gar- 
rison, and  otherwise  prepared  to  withstand  the  foe.  Time 
passed  on.  Day  after  day  the  warriors  continued  the  siege, 
and  yet  there  were  no  signs  of  assistance  for  the  hapless  gar- 
rison. The  provisions  rapidly  decreased.  For  many  long 
days  and  nights  no  man  attempted  to  sleep,  except  in  his 
<jlothes,  with  his  weapons  by  his  side. 

When  an  opportunity  presented  itself,  the  soldiers  ran  out 
and  leveled  the  outhouses  to  the  ground,  and  removed  every- 
thing that  would  serve  as  a  shield  or  covering  for  the  warriors. 
This  done  the  Indians  could  find  no  shelter,  and,  being  unwill- 
ing to  expose  themselves  to  the  fire  of  the  fort,  they  seldom 
approached  very  near  to  it.  The  two  vessels  that  lay  in  the 
river  guarded  the  north  and  south  corners  of  the  fort  with  their 
fire,  and  thus  considerably  strengthened  Gladwyn's  position. 
The  Indians  next  attempted  to  set  fire  to  the  buildings  within 
the  fort  by  shooting  arrows  tipped  with  burning  tow,  upon 
their  roofs,  but  the  fort  being  well  provided  with  water,  their 
efforts  were  futile. 

Pontiac  next  summoned  the  garrison  to  surrender.  He  said 
the  officers  and  soldiers  would  be  allowed  to  embark  in  their 


were  now 


OB,   THE  BORDER  WARS    07   TWO   0ENTDRIE8. 


53 


veBsels  and  depart  uninjured,  but  in  the  event  they  reAiaed  to 
comply,  and  the  fort  should  be  taken,  they  would  all  be  slaught- 
ered.  Major  Gladwyn's  reply  was  short  and  decisive,  and,  it  is 
believed,  convinced  Pontiac  that  hin  British  foe  was  still  firm, 
and  determined  to  hold  possession  of  the  fort.  "  The  attacks 
were  now  resumed  with  increased  activity,  and  the  assailants 
were  soon  after  inspired  by  the  arrival  of  a  hundred  and  twenty 
Ojibwa  warriors  from  Grand  River."  In  the  fort,  every  effort 
for  its  defense  was  put  forth.  The  soldiers  slept  upon  the  ram- 
parts, and  a  constant  vigilance  was  maintained. 

Meanwhile  every  possible  effort  was  made  to  obtain  a  supply 
of  provisions  for  the  garrison.  ,  At  length  negotiations  were 
opened  with  a  Canadian  named  Baby,  who,  for  ample  consider- 
ation, supplied  the  fort  with  cattle,  hogs  and  such  other 
necessaries  as  he  could  command.  These  were  carried  from  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  where  M.  Baby  resided,  to  the  fort,  in 

oes,  which  crossed  the  river  with  their  preci'^us  freight  under 
wver  of  the  darkness.     Being  thus  supplied  with  food,  the 
wearied  garrison  took  new  courage. 

About  this  time  the  Indians,  who  had  hoped  to  capture 
Detroit  by  a  single  assault,  were  beginning  to  suffer  for  food. 
Tliey  had  rushed  into  the  war  with  a  recklessness  character- 
istic of  their  race,  and  were  now  sorely  perplexed  in  their 
endeavors  to  continue  the  siege.  Want  gradually  compelled 
them  to  apply  to  the  Canadians  for  assistance,  but  this  was 
granted  only  in  cases  where  threatened  violence  advised  it. 
When  this  had  become  a  source  of  trouble  and  annoyance  to 
the  Canadian  settlers,  they  appointed  a  deputation  from  among 
their  number,  instructing  them  to  visit  the  camp  of  Pontiacj 
and  lay  their  grievances  before  him.  This  they  did,  meeting 
the  Ottawa  chief  at  the  house  where  Capt.  Campbell  and  Lieut. 
McDougal  were  confined.  Wlien  the  sachems  of  the  various 
tribes  had  been  convened,  one  of  the  deputies  rose  and  said: 
"  You  pretend  to  be  friends  of  the  French,  and  yet  you  plun- 
der us  of  our  hogs  and  cattle.  You  trample  upon  our  fields 
of  young  corn,  and  when  you  enter  our  houses  you  enter  with 
tomahawk  raised.  When  your  French  father  comes  from  Mon- 
treal with  his  great  army,  h^  Mrill  hear  of  what  you  have  done? 


S 


64 


TIIK  LITES  or  FONTIAO   AMD  TnCUlWEH : 


and,  instead  of  shaking  hands  with  you  as  brother*,  he  will 
punish  you  as  enemies." 

Pontiac  replied  in  the  following  words:  "We  have  never 
wished  to  do  you  harm',  nor  allow  any  to  be  done  you;  but 
among  ns  there  are  many  young  men  who,  though  strictly 
watched,  find  opportunities  of  mischief.  It  is  not  to  revenge 
myself  alone  that  I  make  war  on  the  English.  It  is  to  revenge 
you,  my  brothers.  When  the  English  insulted  us  they  insulted 
you  also.  I  know  that  they  have  taken  away  your  arms,  and 
made  you  sign  a  paper  which  they  have  sent  home  to  their 
country.  Therefore  you  are  left  defenseless;  and  I  mean  now 
to  revenge  your  cause  and  my  own  together.  I  mean  to  destroy 
the  English,  and  leave  not  one  upon  our  lands.  You  do  not 
know  the  reasons  from  which  I  act.  I  have  told  you  those  only 
which  concern  yourselves;  but  you  will  learn  all  in  time.  You 
will  cease  then  to  think  me  a  fool.  I  know,  my  brothers,  that 
there  are  many  among  you  who  take  part  with  tlie  English.  I 
am  sorry  for  it,  for  their  own  sakes;  for  when  our  father  arrives, 
I  shall  point  them  out  to  him,  and  they  will  see  whether  they 
or  I  have  most  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  part  we  have 
acted. 

"  I  do  not  doubt,  my  brothers,  that  this  war  is  very  trouble- 
some to  you,  for  our  warriors  are  continually  passing  and 
repassing  through  your  settlement.  I  am  sorry  for  it.  Do  not 
think  that  I  approve  of  the  damage  that  is  done  by  them;  and, 
as  a  proof  of  this,  remember  the  war  with  the  Foxes,  and  the 
part  which  I  took  in  it.  It  is  now  seventeen  years  since  the 
Ojibwas,  of  Michilimackinac,  combined  with  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  came  down  to  destroy  you.  Who  then  defended  you? 
Was  it  not  I  and  my  young  men?  Mackinac,  great  chief  of  all 
these  nations  said,  in  council,  that  he  would  carry  to  his  village 
the  head  of  your  commandant;  that  he  would  eat  his  heart 
and  drink  his  blood?  Did  I  not  take  your  part?  Did  I  not 
go  to  his  camp,  and  say  to  him,  that  if  he  wished  to  kill  the 
French,  he  must  first  kill  me  and  my  warriors?  Did  I  not 
assist  you  in  routing  them  and  driving  them  away?  And  now 
yon  think  that  I  would  turn  my  arms  against  you?  No,  my 
brothers;  I  am  the  same  French  Pontiac  who  assisted  you 


OK,    TIIK    BOKDKK   WAKH   OF   TWO   OKMTURIK8. 


M 


uin    a  Frenchman  and   I   wish   to 
now  repeat   to  you  that  you  and 


)uble- 
and 

)onot 
and, 
the 
I  the 
and 
youl 
of  all 


seventeen   years  ago.      I 
die  a  Frenchman;   and    1 
I  arc  one;  tliat  it  is  tor  both  our  interests  that  I  should  be 
avenged.     Let  me  alone;  I  do  not  ask  you  for  aid,  for  it  is  not 
in  your  power  to  give  it.     I  only  ask  provisions  for  myself  and 
men.     Yet,  if  you  are  inclined  to  assist  me,  I  shall  not  refuse 
you.     It  would  please  me,  and  you  yourselves  would  be  sooner 
rid  of  your  troubles;  for  £  promise  you  that  as  soon  as  the 
English  are  driven  out,  we  will  go  back  to  our  villages,  and  there 
await  the  arrival  of  our  French  Father.     You  have  heard  whi»t 
I  have  to  say;  remain  at  peace  and  I  will  watch  that  no  harm 
shall  be  done  to  you,  either  by  my  men  or  by  the  other  Indians." 
Pontiac  immediately  took  measures  to  prevent  a  continu- 
ance of  the  outrages,  of  which  the  Canadians  complained.     He 
also  adopted  a  new  policy  in  procuring  supplies  for  his  army. 
He  visited  the  Canadian   inhabitants  personally,  and,  after 
inquiring  into  their  financial    conditions,  informed  each  of 
the  amount  he  would  be   required  to  donate.      Without  a 
single  exception,  the  taxes  so  levied  were  paid  to  the  OttawR- 
chiefs  collectors,  and  by  them  carried  to  the  Ottawa  village 
at  Parent's  Creek.    Pontiac,  being  compelled   to  repeat  his 
demands  for  provisions,  and  wishing  not  to  offend  the  French, 
adopted  a  singular  mode  of  paying  them.    He  issued  prom- 
issory notes,  drawn  upon  birch  bark,  and  signed  with  the 
figure  of  the  otter,  the  totem  to  which  he  belonged.     It  should 
be  mentioned  here,  to  the  credit  of  Pontiac,  that  these  notes 
were  all  faithfully  redeemed. 


heart 

not 

lithe 

1  not 

now 


CHAPTER    VII. 

TiiK  SiKOE  OF  Detroit— Fatk  of  Cctleb'b  Dbtachmrnt  — Bbavtjry 
OK  TUK  Wtakootb  —  Indian  Cahouse— MASBAoitB  and  Mukdbh  — 
HouKiiii.B  Fate  of  the  Western  Odtpostb  —  Pau.  of  Sandusky, 
Pkrsqub  Isle,  etc.— Tbe  Forests  Orowino  Black  with  Indiav 
Warriors. 


i 


While  Detroit  was  tlius  haraased  ar^d  besieged,  a  strong 
detachment  was  advancing  up  the  lake  with  general  supplies 
for  the  western  outposts.  The  garrison,  being  aware  of  its 
approach,  was  filled  with  anxiety  for  its  welfare.  Time  passed 
on.  Matters  at  Detroit  continued  to  grow  more  alarming  to 
the  garrison  every  day.  The  warriors  renewed  the  attack  daily, 
and  seemed  to  become  more  confident  of  success  with  every 
assault.  Fontiac  had  sent  messengers  to  M.  Neyon,  command- 
ant at  the  Illinois,  earnestly  requesting  that  a  force  of  regular 
troops  be  sent  to  his  assistance.  Gladwyn,  on  his  part,  had 
ordered  one  of  the  vessels  to  proceed  down  the  lake  to  meet 
the  approaching  convoy.  The  schooner  set  sail,  but  was 
becalmed  at  the  entrance  to  Lake  Erie,  where  she  was  com- 
pelled to  lay  for  some  time.  Wliile  in  this  unfortunate  situation 
a  "  multitude  of  canoes  suddenly  darted  out  upon  her  from  the 
neighboring  shores."  In  the  prow  of  the  foremost  canoe  sat 
Capt.  Campbell,  whom  the  Indians  had  placed  there  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  themselves  against  the  fire  of  the  English. 
But  the  resolute  Captain  called  out  to  the  crew  to  do  their  duty 
without  regard  to  him.  At  this  moment  a  stiff  breeze  swept 
down  the  river,  and  the  schooner  sped  on  her  course,  leaving 
the  disappointed  warriors  far  behind. 

Matters  continued  at  the  fort  without  important  change  until 
the  thirtieth  of  May,  when  at  an  early  hour  the  garrison  espied 
the  long-expected  convoy  advancing  slowly  up  the  river.     The 

(56) 


OK,   THK   fiOKDKK   WARS  OF   TWr>   OKNTURIEf). 


97 


'Aii 


gurrison  broke  into  three  Iicarty  cheers,  for  now,  it  would  seem, 
their  sufforinga  were  at  an  end.  A  cannon  ''  Bont  its  loud  voice 
of  deiiauce  to  the  enemy  and  welcome  to  tho  approaching 
friends."  But  alas  I  the  joyous  faces  of  the  soldiers  and  offi- 
cers grew  deathly  pale.  Upon  careful  examination,  the  boats 
were  found  to  be  full  of  savages.  The  convoy  had  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  boats  and  supplies  had  been 
taken,  and  the  soldiers  of  the  detachment  slaughtered  or  made 
captives. 

Eighteen  boats  were  now  approaching,  and  in  each  were  two 
or  more  of  the  captured  soldiers,  acting  as  oarsmen,  and  guarded 
by  several  armed  savages.  Hundreds  of  warriors  were  also 
following  the  boats  along  the  shore.  In  the  foremost  boat,  it 
80  happened  that  there  were  four  soldiers  and  only  three  Indi- 
ans. In  the  river,  just  opposite  the  fort,  lay  one  of  the  British 
schooners,  already  mentioned,  her  companion  having  gone 
down  the  lake  to  hasten  this  very  reinforcement.  As  the  boat 
came  near  to  this  vesuel,  one  of  the  soldiers  seized  the  largest 
Indian  and  threw  him  overboard.  The  Indian  held  fast  to  his 
enemy's  clothes,  and,  drawing  himself  up,  stabbed  him  several 
times  with  his  knife.  The  bieeulag  soldier  gave  way  and  was 
dragged  overboard  by  the  Indian.  They  w^^ro  both  borne  swiftly 
down  on  the  current  of  the  river,  and  perished  grappled  in  each 
other's  arms.  The  two  remaining  Indians  leap'^'^  '^nt  o*"  tLc 
boat,  and  the  prisoners  seized  the  paddles  and  pulled  vigor- 
uusly  towards  the  schooner.  The  8a\age8  on  the  shore  fired 
upon  them,  and  several  canoes  were  paddled  swiftly  in  pursuit. 
The  soldiers  were  struggling  for  life.  They  called  aloud  for 
aid,  and  strained  every  nerve  to  gain  the  vessel;  but  their  pur- 
suers were  gaining  rapidly  upon  them.  In  another  moment 
one  of  the  men  was  wounded.  He  dropped  his  paddle,  falling 
to  the  bottom  of  the  boat.  Tlieir  chances  of  escape  were  now 
lessened,  but  they  struggled  on.  As  the  savages  were  almost 
upon  them,  the  report  of  a  cannon  burst  from  the  side  of  the 
vessel,  and  the  ball,  passing  close  to  tlie  foremost  canoe,  cut  the 
water  into  a  line  of  foam.  Being  thus  greeted  the  savages 
turned  back  in  dismay.    The  prisoners  soon  reached  the  vessel. 


3 


S8 


THK   LIVKH  or    PONTIAO    ANt>  TKCUMIIKIi: 


and  were  greetod  with  rounds  of  liunrty  cheurH.  Tho  other 
boat!)  passed  slowly  up  the  river  towards  tho  Ottawa  village. 

The  soldiers  who  had  thus  escaped,  now  related  the  adven- 
tures and  sufferings  of  their  detachment.  Tho  following  is 
their  story,  as  told  in  the  "  History  of  the  Conspiracy  of  Pon- 
tiac:"  Lieut.  Ouyler  had  lolY  Fort  Niagara  as  early  as  the 
thirteenth  of  May,  and  embarked  from  Fort  Sclilosser,  just 
above  the  falls,  with  ninety-six  men  and  a  plentiful  supply  of 
provisions  and  ammunition.  Day  after  day  ho  had  coasted 
along  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  had  seen  neither 
friend  nor  foe  amid  those  lonely  forests  and  waters,  when,  on 
the  twenty-eighth  of  the  month,  he  landed  at  Point  Pele6,  not 
far  from  the  mouth  of  tho  River  Detroit.  The  boats  were 
drawn  on  the  beach,  and  tho  party  prepared  to  encamp.  A 
man  and  a  boy  went  to  gather  firewood  at  a  short  distance  from 
the  spot,  when  an  Indian  leaped  out  of  the  woods,  seized  the 
boy  by  the  hair  and  tomahawked  him.  The  man  ran  into 
camp  with  tho  alarm.  Cuyler  immediately  formed  his  soldiers 
into  a  semi-cirde  before  the  boats.  He  had  scarcely  done  so 
when  the  Indians  opened  their  fire.  For  an  instant  there  was 
a  hot  blaze  of  musketry  on  both  sides.  Then  the  Indians  broke 
out  of  the  woods  in  a  body,  and  rushed  fiorcply  upon  the  centre 
of  the  line,  which  gave  way  in  every  part,  the  men  flinging 
down  their  guns,  running  in  a  blind  panic  to  the  boats,  and 
struggling  with  ill-directed  efforts  to  shove  them  into  the 
water.  Five  were  set  afloat,  and  pushed  off  from  the  shore, 
crowded  with  the  terrified  soldiers." 

Lieut.  Cuyler,  being  thus  deserted  by  his  men,  waded  up  to 
his  neck  in  the  water  and  climbed  info  one  of  the  retreating 
boats.  The  savages  pushed  two  more  afloat,  and  went  in  pur- 
suit of  the  soldiers,  three  boat  loads  of  whom  gave  themselves 
up  without  resistance;  but  the  remaining  two,  in  one  of  which 
was  Cuyler  himself,  made  their  escape.  "  They  rowed  all  night 
and  landed  in  the  morning  upon  a  small  island.  Between 
thirty  and  forty  men,  some  of  whom  were  wounded,  were 
crowded  into  these  two  boats;  the  rest,  about  sixty  in  number 
being  killed  or  taken.  Ouyler  now  made  for  Sandusky,  which, 
on  his  arrival,  he  found  burned  to  the  ground.    Immediatelj 


OK,   TIIK    HOUDKU   WARS  OP   TWO   CRN'l'UBIKi. 


fit) 


leaving  tho  spot,  ho  rowod  aloii^  tho  Bouth  Bhore  to  PruHquu 
IbIo,  from  whenco  ho  proceodod  to  Niagara  and  reported  hiH 
loBB  to  Major  Wilkins,  tho  commanding  ofticor." 

Ihit  lot  118  return  to  Detroit  and  to  the  Indian  villages  in  its 
vicinity.  Tho  Indians  who  had  thuB  interrupted  tho  convoy 
and  slnnghtertHl  or  captured  the  Boldicrs,  were  tho  WyandotB. 
Among  tho  Hupplies  which  they  had  captured  waB  a  large 
quantity  of  licpior,  which  tlioy  Bcized  and  carried  to  their  viU 
lagCB,  which,  throughout  the  following  night,  preucnted  a  beaHtly 
Bcone  of  drnnkcnncBB.  What  shall  we  say  of  tho  fate  of  the 
unfortunate  Boldiers  takon  priBoners  in  thiB  affair?  Tliey  met 
thoir  death  during  the  drunken  carouse  on  that  same  night. 
B.it  it  was  more  than  death — more  than  torture.  Thankful, 
indeed,  were  the  three  escaped  soldiers — oven  ho  who  was  suf- 
fering from  a  severe  wound — when,  during  that  dark  and 
gloomy  night,  while  secure  within  tho  desolate  fort,  tho  moans 
of  their  dying  comrades  wore  borne  to  their  ears  on  the  breeze, 
from  the  distant  camp-fires  of  the  Wyandots.  Not  one  was 
Bpared.  No  white  man  witnessed  their  fate;  but,  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  as  the  mangled  corpses  floated  down  on  the  clear 
waters  of  the  Detroit,  one  after  another,  tho  horrified  garrison 
beheld  awful  evidences  of  savage  cruelty.  In  the  ghastly  train 
were  many  charred  trunks,  tho  result  of  tho  slow  fires  of  death. 

There  was  but  little  time  to  reflect  on  this  horrible  massacre, 
for  with  the  next  day  came  the  news  of  another — the  fate  of 
the  garrison  of  Sandusky.  Thus  it  will  be  seen,  while  that 
part  of  tho  work  which  Pontiac  had  intrusted  to  his  warriors 
in  neighboring  villages  was  going  forward  with  intoxicating 
success,  he  himself  was,  as  yet,  unable  to  capture  Detroit, 
although  assisted  by  his  bravest  warriors.  Tlie  massacre  at 
Sandusky  was  full  of  horror.  Ensign  Paully,  commandant  at 
this  fort,  was  informed,  on  a  certain  day,  that  several  warriors 
were  waiting  at  the  gate  to  speak  with  him.  Most  of  them 
being  well  known  to  him,  he  gave  orders  to  admit  them.  The 
Indians  passed  in,  and,  arriving  at  his  quarters,  they  seized, 
disarmed  and  bound  him.  The  next  moment  he  heard  the 
work  of  massacre  without.  Shrieks,  yells,  the  firing  of  guns, 
and  the  hurried  tramp  of  feet  fell  ominously  upon  his  ears.    A 


eo 


THB   IJVn  or  FOMTIAC   Aim  TKiniMHKIi: 


iiiuiiient  more,  and  he  wan  led  forth  hy  \m  captors  "  to  Inshold 
the  parade  ground  Mtruwn  with  tliu  corpHUM  of  liiH  murdered 
garriHon."  With  the  approach  of  night  he  waH  taken  to  the 
lake  where  oevoral  canoes  lay  in  readineitH.  He  waH  placed  into 
one  of  them  under  a  strong  guard,  and  the  little  fleet  puithed 
out  upon  the  placid  hooom  of  the  waters.  Ix)oking  hack  an 
the  canoes  were  itaddled  away,  Paully  heheld  "  the  fort  lately 
under  his  command,  bursting  on  all  sides  into  sheets  of  flame." 
While  a  number  of  warriors  thus  bore  their  captive  to  the 
lodge  of  Pontiac,  a  humlred  warriors,  adorned  with  the  scalps 
of  the  slaughtered  garrison,  rushed  madly  through  the  margin 
of  the  woods,  towards  the  same  point.  Tlius  every  day  the 
great  Ottawa  chief  was  gratitied  with  the  return  of  a  band  of 
his  warriors  loaded  down  with  English  scalps.  On  landing 
near  the  camp  of  Pontiac,  Pfiully  was  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of 
savages,  chiefly  squaws  and  children,  who  pelted  him  with  stoneh 
and  sticks,  and  sot  up  a  burst  of  wild  yells  of  triumph.  The 
captive  bore  this  with  great  fortitude,  expecting  the  next  act 
in  the  drama  would  find  him  bound  to  the  stake  and  sur- 
rounded by  the  fuel  of  death,  but  he  was  happily  disappointed. 
An  old  woman,  whose  husband  had  lately  died,  decided  to 
adopt  him  in  place  of  the  dead  warrior,  which  Paully  gladly 
agreed  to.  Having  been  plunged  in  the  river  for  the  purpose 
of  washing  the  white  blood  from  his  veins,  he  was  conducted 
to  the  lodge  of  his  voluntetn'  wife,  and  from  that  day  treated 
with  all  the  respect  due  an  Ottawa  brave.  It  was  through  a 
letter  from  him  that  Gladwyn  received  the  particulars  of  this 
horrible  butchery. 

Amid  all  this  gloom  that  was  thickening  around  Detroit, 
and  terrifying  the  hearts  of  the  sleepless  garrison,  came  the 
news  that  Pontiac's  forces  had  been  reinforced  by  two  very 
strong  bands  of  Ojibwa  braves.  The  great  chief  now  stood  at 
the  head  of  a  thousand  warriors,  consisting  of  Pottawatomies, 
Wyandots  and  Ojibwas.  This  force  was  judiciously  distributed 
tinder  chiefs  Ninivay,  Takee,  Wasson  and  Lekahos.  All  the 
warriors  brought  their  families  with  tliem,  and  the  number  of 
eavages  congregated  in  the  vicinity  of  Detroit,  probably, 
exceeded  four  thousand.    The  siege  of  Detroit  was  continued 


•  )U,   TIIK    HoKrtKM    WAKM   (>r   TWO   HI'  N'ri;KII«. 


61 


(lay  atl«r  duy,  and  thv  ititiiutiun  of  tlii*  ^rriitoii  whh  r«>ii(U'rtHl 
alinoMt  liopuloHH.  With  iivurly  uvory  hour  chiiiu  thu  iivwNot'  Home 
diHHRtor.  Tho  proviBioiiH  were  ahiio«t  gone,  uml  th<*  eUmds  of 
infnrintiHl  warriorB  wuro  growing  hlaukor  and  hiaekor  in  the 
vicinity  of  Pontlac'n  villaf(0. 

On  the  tii^oenth  of  Juno  a  numl)er  (»f  IndianR  ramo  to  the 
furt,  hriufi^ing  with  thoni  four  En^lirih  priHonurH,  who  proved 
tu  ho  tho  coinuiundant  of  Fort  St.  iloHoph,  witli  throo  of  hiii 
garriHon.  Aftor  oonie  delay  these  were  oxchanj^ud  for  Movoriil 
Indian  priBonerH  who  had  l)een  confined  wit)iin  tho  fort  for 
lome  time.  Again  Gladwyn  liHtcned  to  tlio  terrible  account 
of  tnasBacre  nn  brought  to  bin  earn  by  Ennign  SchloHHor,  late 
oominandant  at  Fort  St.  Joii)e])h.  The  Htory  ran  thuH:  Mil 
poBtVas  nituated  at  the  mouth  of  tlie  river  St.  JoHoph,  near 
the  hoad  of  Lake  Micliigan,  a  spot  which,  for  mony  years,  had 
been  the  Bite  of  a  Cat}iolic  miBsion.  lie  Iiad  apprehended  no 
danger,  but  on  tho  twonty-iifth  of  May,  early  in  tho  morning, 
he  was  informed  that  a  large  number  of  PottHwatomiot)  had 
come  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Indian  village  near  the  fort.  Close 
upon  this  intelligence  he  was  informed  that  tlic  savages  wore 
preparing  to  attack  the  fort.  At  this  the  commandant  ran  out 
of  the  fort,  and  crossing  the  parade,  which  was  filleii  witli 
Indians  and  Canadians,  hastily  entered  the  barrncks.  Hiese 
were  also  tilled  with  Indians,  very  insolent  and  disorderly.  He 
ordered  the  garrison  under  arms,  but  he  had  no  sooner  turned 
away  than  he  heard  the  terrifying  scalp  shriek,  which  notiticd 
him  that  the  slaughter  had  already  begun.  In  less  than  ten 
minutes  the  fort  was  plundered,  eleven  men  were  killed,  and 
the  commandant  and  three  survivors  made  prisoners,  and 
securely  bound.  The  Indians  then  conducted  tho  command- 
ant to  Detroit,  where  he  was  released  as  already  explained. 

Next  came  the  news  of  the  massacre  at  Fort  Michilimacki- 
nac,  located  on  the  extreme  northern  point  of  the  southern 
peninsula  of  Michigan.  This,  of  all  the  bloody  narratives  that 
shocked  the  trembling  garrison  of  Detroit,  was,  perhaps,  by  far 
the  most  thrilling;  but  I  will  pass  over  it  at  present  in  order 
to  give  place  to  other  reports  of  the  war  which  were  daily 
pouring  in  at  Gladwyn 's  headquarters.     In  a  succeeding  chap- 


!! 


6S 


TIIK    UVKM   or    l1)N-rU0    AMD  TKHlIIWKIi: 


tcr,  tho  ruHtior  in  conduotod  Uy  tho  ii{K)t,  and  tho  nwful  tn»gc«ly 
oiiHt'toil  botbru  him. 

Following  tliid  drvHilAil  m^WM  caniu  tUvi  ri>|M>rt  tlmt  Onutnnon, 
a  sninll  tort  on  tho  WulxiMh,  hud  iMtun  cu|iturt!d  uiul  thv  f^urri- 
ion  niudo  priHonum.  Following  in  thu  l«itt(*r  uddrt*MMMl  to  Major 
Gladwyn  hy  tho  connnnndiint  of  thin  poitt,  giving  a  full  account 
of  itM  cApturi!: 

"OUATANON,  Jtini*  Ut,  WW. 
"Hin:  I  huvH  li«»ril  uf  your  tltuitlion,  which  g\vt'n  m«  urt-nX  pnin; 
indvcd,  wo  aru  not  In  much  lM*tt>T,  Tor  thU  morning  tin*  IndlnitH  iinnt  for 
mo  to  MiHsak  to  uiu,  ami  Imnv  diatcly  bound  in<>.  Whun  I  got  to  their 
cabin  I  T'lund  tomo  of  my  noldlom  In  the  Mmo  condition.  They  told  me 
Detroit,  Miami,  and  all  those  poHta  w«tu  cut  o(T,  and  that  it  waN  a  lolly  to 
make  any  rciilitanco.  They  thercforudeaired  me  to  make  tho  Tew  Noldlem  In 
tho  fort  lurronderiOthrrwIiie  they  would  put  uaall  to  duath,  In  cave  one  man 
waa  killed.  They  wore  to  have  tell  on  u»  and  killed  uh  all  laiit  niffht,  bm 
Mr.  Maliongville  and  Lorain  g^vo  them  wampum  not  to  kill  ua,  and  when 
they  told  the  Interpreter  that  we  were  all  to  be  killed,  and  he,  knowing 
tho  condition  of  the  fort,  beKK"d  of  them  to  make  ur  |iriHoni>ra.  They 
have  put  an  into  French  houHcii,  and  both  Indians  and  French  use  nii 
very  well.  All  these  nations  say  they  are  very  sorry,  but  that  they  were 
obliged  to  do  it  by  tho  other  nations,  Tho  belt  did  not  arrive  here  till  last 
night  about  eight  o'clock.  Mr.  Lorain  can  inform  you  of  all.  I  have  Just 
received  tho  news  of  St.  Joseph's  being  taken.  Eleven  men  were  killed 
and  three  taken  prisoners  with  tho  officer.  I  have  notiiing  more  to  say, 
but  that  I  sincerely  wisth  you  u  speedy  succor,  and  that  wi>  may  be  able  to 
revenge  ourselves  on  thoHO  that  deserve  It.  I  remain,  with  my  slncerost 
wishes  (or  your  safety. 

"  Your  most  humble  servant,  Edw'd  Jrnkiks." 

Tills  letter  was  written  by  Mr.  Jcnkinn  while  in  the  custody 
of  the  savages,  and  just  before  his  departure  with  thetn  to  the 
niinois.  Ghidwyn  had  suarcoly  time  to  read  this  letter  before 
the  news  of  tho  lo8«  of  F«)rt  Miami  burst  upon  him.  This  post, 
standing  situated  on  the  river  Muumee,  was  imder  tlie  com- 
mand of  Ensign  Elolmes.  He  suspected  tlio  treachery  of  the 
Indians,  and  was  consequently  on  his  guard,  when  on  tlic 
twenty-seventh  of  May,  a  young  Indian  girl,  with  whom  he 
had  maintained  an  intimacy  for  some  time,  came  and  told  him 
that  a  squaw,  in  a  neighboring  hut,  lay  dangerously  ill,  and 
urged  him  to  come  to  her  relief.  Being  moved  by  the  girl's 
representations,  he  followed  her  out  of  the  fort  towards  the 


OK,    lilK    IhmOli'M    WAMI   uir    TWO   OKM I  llMlli>t. 


68 


lii«iiiiii  villAf^«.  IIw  liAtl  not  |»r<Kw««l(Ni  iWr  wIkmi  two  gnni 
tiuMlxHl  tVoin  IkjIiIikI  noimu  Nlirul)bi)r^,  niul  ho  lull  lit'i'lmii  on  the 
f^ruM.  Th«)  n)|N)rti«  of  th«t  )(uiiii  witrtt  huanl  in  thu  tort,  nnd  tho 
M>r^«iiiiit  ran  out  to  fiiM>i>rtiun  tho  uienning  of  thi)  Hh(H>ting.  lie 
WHM  iniintMlintuly  tukon  prinonur,  and  Niirroundud  hy  a  iicoro  of 
MHvafftm.  Till!  turritlttl  Mohliont  of  thit  KiirriiioM  wuro  now  lum* 
inonod  to  Hurrundor  tho  tort,  and  tho  IndiiuiM  haviri^^  proiniHod 
to  protect  thoir  livim,  thuy  niadily  ooinpliod.  TUoy  wore  all 
taki'ii  priMotiorh. 

Thu  full  of  l*roH(pio  Ul»  In  ni^xt  In  ordur.  Nowi  of  this  dii- 
MHtor  ruiuthed  (lladwyn  on  thu  twentieth  of  Junu,  and,  two  days 
Attur  u  hordu  of  rtuvaguM  piuttiud  by  thu  fort  with  MmlpH  tluttur- 
in^  from  thuir  itidoH,  on  thuir  way  to  thu  Ottawa  vlUago.  Thoy 
w(!ro  on  thuir  way  to  tho  gri'ut  chiuf,  to  pruMunt  him  with  the 
Hculpri  of  tho  unfortunato  HoldiurH  of  PruH(|iio  lalo.  This  fort 
wiiH  iindor  thu  command  of  Ensign  (yhrintlu,  a  bravo  and  f^nl- 
lant  otH(«r.  Iloatllu  IndlniiH  wuru  dUcovurud  In  thu  vicinity 
of  tho  fort  on  tho  tiftoonth  of  Juno.  Ah  noon  ati  tho  garrison 
liud  i>u(>n  nwaro  of  tho  unumy's  prorionco,  thoy  rutirod  into 
thtt  blockhou8o,  abandoning  tho  main  body  of  tho  fort,  l^ut, 
at  this  point,  in  ordor  that  thu  rcadur  tnay  bottor  understand 
tho  different  phases  of  thu  attack,  I  will  give  a  vury  brief 
description  of  tho  fort.  Pn!H(juu  Islu  stood  near  to  tho  site  of 
the  present  city  of  Erie,  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 
At  one  of  its  angles  was  a  largo  blockhouse  two  storios  high, 
and  sub8tantially  built  of  massive  timber,  the  dimensions  of 
thu  upper  story  exceeding  that  of  the  lower  by  several  foot. 
''The  roof  being  covered  with  shingles,  might  easily  bo  sot  on 
tire;  but  to  guard  against  this,  there  was  an  opening  at  tho 
riummit,  through  which  the  garrison,  partially  protected  by  a 
covering  of  plank,  might  pour  down  water  upon  the  flames. 
This  blockhouse  stood  on  a  projecting  point  of  land,  between 
the  lake  and  a  small  brook  which  entered  nearly  at  right  angles. 
Unfortunately,  tho  bank  of  tho  brook  rose  in  a  high,  steep 
fidge,  within  forty  yards  of  tho  blockhouse,  thus  afibrding  a 
cover  for  assailants,  while  tho  bank  of  tho  lake  offered  similar 
facilities  on  another  side.'* 

Tlie  Indians  who  had  now  assailed  the  fort,  crowded  together 


«4 


THE   LIVBS  OF   lX)N'nAO   AND  TKUUMHUH: 


in  great  numbers,  under  cover  of  the  rising  ground,  and  kept 
up  a  brisk  fire.     They  not  only  sent  their  bullets  into  every 
loop-hole  and  crevice,  but  shot  tire-arrows  upon  the  roof,  and 
threw  balls  of  burning  pitch  against  the  wall.     Several  times 
the  building  took  iire,>anda8  often  the  flames  were  extin- 
guished.    "The   Indians  now  rolled  logs   to  the  top  of  the 
ridges,  where  they  constructed  three  strong  breastworks,  from 
behind  which  they  could  discharge  their  shot  and  throw  their 
fire-balls  with  still  greater  effect.     Some  of  them  tried  to  dart 
across  the  intervening  space,  and  shelter  themselves  in  the 
ditch  which  surrounded  the  fort,  but  all  of  these  were  killed 
or  wounded  in  the  attempt.     BafHed  in  this  efixjrt,  the  Indi- 
ans began  to  throw  up  earth  and  stones,  behind  one  of  the 
breastworks,  for  the  purpose  of  undermining  the  blockhouse — 
a  plan  that  would  be  sure  of  success,  and  against  which  there 
could  be  no  resistance  oflfered.    But  there  was  no  time  to  reflect 
on  this  new  danger,  for  now,  another  more  horrible  threatened 
them.     The  barrels  of  water  which  had  been  used  for  extin- 
guishing the  flames  were  now  exhausted,  and  there  was  no  way 
to  procure  water  without  going  out  of  the  blockhouse,  and  this 
could  not  be  done  without  incurring  certain  death.    The  only 
alternative  was  to  dig  a  well  within  the  blockhouse.    The  floor 
was  torn  up  and  work  commenced  immediately.     A  few  of  the 
soldiers  stood  at  the  loop-holes  discharging  their  muskets  to 
keep  the  savages  in  check,  while  the  others  labored  with  des- 
perate energy  to  procure  water  by  sinking  a  well.     Before  any 
signs  of  water  made  an  appearance,  the  roof  was  again  on  fire, 
and  the  last  drop  of  water  within  the  blockhouse  was  poured 
down  to  extinguish  it.     In  a  moment  more  the  cry  of  fire  was 
again  raised,  when  a  soldier,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  leaped  upon 
the  roof,  and  tore  away  the  burning  shingles,  and  thus  extin- 
guished it.     It  was  now  evening.      The  little  garrison  had 
fought  hard  all  day  and  hoped  that,  as  the  darkness  set  in,  they 
would  be  temporarily  relieved,  but  they  were  doomed  to  a  sor- 
rowful disappointment.    The  guns  flashed  all  night  long  from 
the  Indian  intrenchments.     However,  before  the  night  passed, 
the  diggers  had  finished  their  well.     This  was  an  important 
accomplishment,  for,  with  the  dawn  of  the  following  day, 


upon 
extin- 
had 
tlicy 
a  8or- 
from 
assed, 
ortant 
day, 


OK,   TMR   BORDKK    WAK8   OF   TWO    CKMUIUI<:8. 


«ft 


llames  burst  forth  from  the  deserted  house  of  the  command- 
ant, which  fttood  near  to  the  blockliouse.  The  flames  ascended 
high  and  became  hotter  and  hotter.  The  corner  of  tlie  block- 
house grew  black,  and,  at  length,  burst  into  a  sheet  of  flame. 
With  this  a  hundred  Indian  yells  pealed  forth  in  triumph,  and 
the  naked  warriors  stood  ready  to  tomahawk  the  wretched  sol- 
diers as  fast  as  they  were  driven  forth.  But  still  the  garrison 
held  out.  Passing  up  water  from  tlie  well  which  now  held  an 
ample  supply,  they  poured  it  down  upon  the  flumes,  and  soon 
extinguished  them.  By  this  time  the  burning  house,  from 
which  the  tire  had  caught,  settled  into  smouldering  embers,  so 
that  nothing  further  was  apprehended  from  that  source. 

The  soldiers  were  now  quite  exhausted,  but  still  they  con- 
tinued their  defense,  "  toiling  and  fighting  without  pause,  where 
the  close  and  heated  atmosphere  was  clogged  with  the  smoke 
of  gunpowdei'."  The  contest  was  continued  throughout  the 
second  day  and  extended  into  midnight.  It  was  a  long  and 
hopeless  struggle.  At  about  twelve  o'clock  on  the  second 
night,  the  garrison  heard  a  voice  call  out  in  French  from  the 
enemy's  en-'-enchments,  warning  the  garrison  that  further 
resistance  would  be  useless  since  full  preparations  had  been 
made  for  setting  fire  to  the  blockhouse,  both  above  and  below 
at  the  same  time.  Christie,  the  commandant,  then  inquired 
if  there  was  any  one  among  them  who  could  speak  English, 
whereupon  a  man  in  Indian  dress,  appeared  from  behind  the 
breastworks,  and  said  that  if  the  garrison  gave  themselves  up 
their  lives  should  be  spared,  but  if  they  continued,  they  would 
all  be  burned  alive.  Christie,  having  resolved  to  hold  out  as 
long  as  a  shadow  of  resistance  could  be  maintained,  told  him 
to  persuade  the  Indians  to  wait  till  the  following  morning  for 
his  answer.  They  assented,  and  suspended  their  fire,  and 
while  some  of  the  garrison  watched,  the  rest  sank  exhausted 
into  a  deep  sleep.  On  the  following  morning  the  commandant 
sent  out  two  of  his  soldiers  under  pretext  of  treating  with  the 
Indians,  but,  in  truth,  to  learn  the  real  situation.  On  reaching 
the  breastwork,  the  soldiers  made  a  signal  by  which  Christie 
knew  that  the  representations  of  the  Englishman  were  correct. 
The  soldiers  told  the  chiefs  that  their  commandant  desired  two 


«6 


THE    MVKH    OF   PONTIAd    AND   TKClHrtHKH: 


of  their  principal  men  ti)  meet  him  midway  between  tlio  block* 
house  and  the  breastwork.  They  appeared  as  requested,  and 
Christie  went  out  and  delivered  them  formal  possession  of  the 
little  fort,  which  he  had  so  ably  defended,  on  the  conditions, 
however,  that  he  and  his  garrison  should  be  allowed  to  depart 
unmolested.  Notwithstanding  this  stipulation,  the  fort  was  no 
sooner  surrendered,  than  the  whole  garrison  were  surrounded, 
seized  and  made  prisoners.  They  were  sent  as  such  to  the 
Ottawa  village  near  Detroit,  when  Christie  soon  after  made  his 
escape  in  safety  to  the  tort. 

The  next  to  share  this  horrifying  fate  were  the  neighboring 
forts  of  Le  Boeuf  and  Venango.  These  posts  were  poorly 
garrisoned,  and  fell  an  easy  prey  to  the  savages  in  their  vicinity. 
But  still  farther  south,  around  Fort  Pitt,  and  along  the  whole 
frontier,  clouds  of  warriors  were  animating  the  forests  with 
their  restless  forms  and  hideous  yells,  preparing  to  burst  forth 
in  an  indiscriminate  slaughter  upon  the  English  settlements. 
In  the  course  of  the  narrative  these  points  will  receive  proper 
attention.  Leaving  the  the  fort  of  Detroit  and  the  camp  of 
Pontiac,  for  a  little  season,  let  us  turn  onr  attention  to  Michil- 
imackinac,  and  observe  the  events  that  were  transpiring  there. 


M     . 


p 

I 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Dbbcriftion  or  Fort  Miohiumackinao  —  Thb  Indians  in  thb 
Vicinity — I*reparation8  fob  thb  Mabsacbb— The  Warning- 
Adventures  09  Engubb  Traders  — The  Niout  Before  thb 
Blauohter. 

Before  giving  an  acconnt  of  the  terrible  massacre  at  Fort 
Michilimackinac,  I  will  briefly  run  through  a  description  of 
that  distant  outpost.  It  was  situated  on  the  northern  extrem- 
ity of  the  southern  peninsula  of  Michigan,  standing  upon  the 
margin  of  the  lake  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  Strait  of  Mackinaw. 
A  little  beyond  the  fort  was  a  cluster  of  white  Canadian 
houses,  roofed  with  bark  and  protected  by  fences  of  strong, 
round  pickets.  As  one  entered  the  gate  of  this  fort  ho  would 
see  beyond  him  an  extensive  square  area,  surrounded  by  high 
palisades.  Numerous  houses,  barracks,  and  other  buildings 
formed  a  smaller  square  within,  and  in  the  vacant  space  which 
they  inclosed,  appeared  the  red  uniforms  of  the  British  soldiers, 
the  gray  coats  of  the  Canadians  and  the  gaudy  Indian  blankets, 
mingled  in  confusion.  Such  was  Fort  Michilimackinac  in 
1763.  Although  buried  in  a  dense  wilderness,  it  was  one  of 
the  oldest  outposts  in  the  lake  region.  The  Jesuits  had  estab- 
Ushed  a  mission  there  as  early  as  1671,  and  in  the  following 
year  the  French  established  a  military  post  in  the  same  place. 
Besides  this  fort  there  were  two  others  in  the  vicinity  called 
Green  Bay  and  the  Saut  Ste.  Marie.  These  were  also  founded 
at  an  early  day,  and,  although  considerably  smaller,  were,  in 
general  characteristics,  similar  to  Michilimackinac.  Tlie  latter 
contained  thirty  families  within  the  palisade  enclosure,  and 
about  as  many  more  without.  This  post  was  important  chiefly 
for  being  the  centre  of  the  fur  trade.  During  the  greater  part 
of  the  year,  the  garrison  and  the  settlers  were  completely  iso- 

(67) 


68 


TIIK   LIVK8  OK   PONTIAO   AND   TWI'MWKIi: 


lated — cut  off  frotn  all  coiitiectioii  vvitli  tlio  outer  world;  and, 
indeed,  the  three  posts  hwt  mentioned  were  80  remote  t'rotn 
each  other,  ami  the  journey  from  one  to  the  other  attended 
with  HO  many  «hin^erH,  that  often,  through  the  whole  wiuter  all 
intercourse  hetween  them  was  entirely  cut  off.  The  IiidiauH 
in  this  section  were  the  Djibwas  aiul  Ottawas,  between  whom 
the  territory  was  nearly  equally  divided.  The  principal  village 
of  the  Ojibwas  contained  over  a  hundred  warriors,  atul  was 
located  upon  the  picturesqtie  Island  of  Mackinaw,  which  has, 
in  late  years,  become  a  favorite  summer  resort.  The  same 
nation  had  aiu)ther  large  settlenuMit  at  Thunder  Bay.  The 
largest  northern  village  of  their  brethren,  the  Ottawas,  was 
situated  at  L'Arbre  Croche,  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  strait  on 
the  margin  of  Lake  Michigan.  This  place,  at  the  period  of 
which  [  am  writing,  was  the  seat  of  the  old  Jesuit  mission  of 
St.  Ignace,  originally  established  by  the  great  and  good  Mar- 
quette, on  tlie  northern  side  of  the  Straits.  It  is  said  of  the 
Ottawas  that  they  had  become  partially  <:ivilized,  while  on  the 
other  hand,  their  neighbors,  the  Ojibwas,  "were  not,  in  the 
least  degree,  removed  from  their  primitive  barbarism."  These 
tribes,  as  also  all  of  the  neighboring  Indians,  were  hostile 
towards  the  English.  Most  of  their  warric)r8  had  fought  on 
the  side  of  France  in  the  late  war,  and  now,  being  goaded  to 
fury  by  the  indignant  Canadians,  they  were  ready  to  raise  the 
tomahawk  against  any  Englishman  who  might  venture  within 
their  territory.  At  this  period  Fort  Michilimackinac  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  French  settlers,  the  French  garrison  having 
been  withdrawn  in  accordance  with  the  capitulation  of  Mon- 
treal, and  the  English  garrison  having  not  yet  arrived.  I  will 
here  cite  an  incident  or  two,  illustrating  the  state  of  feeling 
which  prevailed  among  the  Indians  and  French  at  this  place 
soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  between  the  English  and  French 
colonies.  In  the  autumn  of  1761,  an  Englishman  named 
Alexander  Henry,  in  company  with  one  or  two  others,  came  to 
Michilimackinac  for  the  purpose  of  trading  with  the  Indians. 
On  the  way  these  Englishmen  were  more  than  once  wai  ed  to 
turn  back,  and  told  that  they  they  would  meet  certain  death  if 
they  pursued   their  journey.     At  length,  to  insure  safety,  Mr. 


OR,   THK    ItOKDKU    WAKH   OK    TWO   OKNTUI<ll<». 


69 


)lace 
jiieh 
med 
le  to 
ians. 
[dto 

Ihif 
Mr. 


Uenrj  ussumed  the  diR^iiine  of  ii  (yantidiiui  voyageur.  At 
length  his  canoes,  laden  with  goods,  reached  the  distant  tbroHt 
lort,  but  lie  received  a  cohl  greeting  from  tlie  Frencli  inhabit- 
ants. Tliey  Haid  everything  they  coidd  calcuhited  to  alarm  and 
discourage  him.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  was  notified  that  a 
band  of  Ojibwas  were  on  their  way  from  their  village  to  pay 
Lim  a  visit.  But  this  did  not  disturb  him.  It  was  an  Indian 
custom  to  pay  such  visits  to  a  new-comer  with  a  view  of  receiv- 
iug  presents,  and  Henry  believed  that  by  distributing  a  few 
articles  among  them,  they  would  depart  in  peace.  Following 
is  an  account  of  the  alfair  in  Mr.  Henry's  own  language:  "  At 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  Ojibwas  came  to  the  house, 
about  sixty  in  number,  and  headed  by  Minavavana,  their  chief. 
They  walked  in  single  file,  each  with  his  tomahawk  in  one 
hand  and  scal])ing  knife  in  the  other.  Their  bodies  were  luiked 
from  the  waist  upward,  except  in  a  few  examples,  where  blank- 
ets were  thrown  loosely  over  their  shoulders.  Their  faces  were 
painted  with  charcoal,  worked  up  with  grease;  their  bodies 
with  white  clay,  in  patterns  of  various  fancies.  Some  had 
feathers  thrust  through  their  noses,  and  their  heads  decorated 
with  t)ie  same.  It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  on  the  sensations 
with  which  I  beheld  the  approach  of  this  uncouth,  if  not 
frightful  assemblage.  The  chief  entered  first  and  the  rest  fol 
lowed  without  noise.  On  receiving  a  sign  from  the  former, 
the  latter  seated  themselves  on  the  floor.  Minavavana  appeared 
to  be  about  fifty  years  of  age.  He  was  six  feet  in  heiglit,  and 
had  in  his  countenance  an  indiscribable  mixture  of  good  and 
evil.  Looking  steadfastly  at  me,  where  T  sat  in  ceremony,  with 
an  interpreter  on  either  hand,  and  several  Canadians  behind 
mti,  he  entered  at  the  same  time  into  conversation  with 
Campion,  inquiring  liow  long  it  was  since  I  left  Montreal,  and 
observing  that  the  English,  as  it  would  seem,  were  brave  men, 
and  not  afraid  of  death,  since  thev  dared  to  come,  as  I  had 
done,  fearlessly  among  their  enemies.  The  Indians  now 
gravely  smoked  their  pipes,  while  I  inwardly  endured  the  tor- 
tures of  suspense.  At  length  the  pipes  being  finished,  as  well 
as  a  long  pause,  by  which  they  were  succeeded,  Minavavana, 
taking  a  few  strings  of  wampum  in  his  hand  began  the  fqjlowing 


70 


THE   LIVKH  OF    PONTIAO    AND  TKCUMBKIi: 


•poech:  '  KTip^liBliinan,  it  is  to  you  that  I  Hpuak,  and  I  demand 
jour  attention.  Englishman,  you  know  the  Frcnbh  King  is 
our  father;  lie  promised  to  be  such,  and  we,  in  return,  prom- 
ised to  be  his  children.  This  promise  we  have  kept. 
Englishman,  it  is  you  that  have  made  war  with  this  our 
father.  You  are  his  enemy,  and  how,  then,  could  you  have 
the  boldness  to  venture  among  us  his  children.  You  know 
that  his  enemies  are  ours.  Englishman,  we  are  informed  that 
our  father,  the  King  of  France,  is  old  and  infirm,  and  that 
being  fatigued  with  making  war  upon  your  nation,  he  has 
fallen  asleep.  During  his  sleep  you  have  taken  advantage  of 
him,  and  possessed  yourselves  of  Canada.  But  his  nap  is 
almost  at  an  end.  I  think  I  hear  him  already  stirring  and 
inquiring  for  his  children,  the  Indians;  and  when  he  does 
awake,  what  must  become  of  you?  He  will  destroy  you 
utterly.  Englishman,  although  you  have  conquered  the 
French,  you  have  not  yet  conquered  us.  We  are  not  your 
slaves.  These  lakes,  these  woods  and  these  mountains  were 
left  to  us  by  our  ancestors.  They  are  our  inheritance,  and  we 
will  part  with  them  to  no  one.  Your  nation  supposes  that  we, 
like  the  white  people,  cannot  live  without  bread,  and  pork,  and 
beef;  but  you  ouglit  to  know  that  He,  the  Great  Spirit  and 
Master  of  Life,  has  provided  food  for  us  in  these  spacious  lakes 
and  on  these  woody  mountains.  Englishman,  our  father,  the 
King  of  France,  employed  our  young  men  to  make  war  upon 
your  nation.  In  this  warfare  many  of  them  have  been  killed, 
and  it  is  our  custom  to  retaliate  until  such  time  as  the  sp'-'ts 
of  the  slain  are  satisfied.  But  the  spirits  of  the  slain  are  to 
be  satisfied  in  either  of  two  ways.  The  first  is  by  the  spilling 
of  the  blood  of  the  nation  by  which  they  fell;  the  other  by 
covering  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  and  thus  allaying  the  resent- 
ments of  their  relations.  This  is  done  by  making  presents. 
Englishman,  your  king  has  never  sent  us  any  presents,  nor 
entered  into  any  treaty  with  us;  wherefore,  he  and  we  are  still 
at  war,  and  until  he  does  these  things  we  must  consider  that 
we  have  no  other  father  nor  friend  among  the  white  men  than 
the  King  of  France.  But  for  you,  we  have  taken  into  consid- 
eration, that  you  have  ventured  your  life  among  us,  in  the 


OK,    rilK    IIOKDKK    WAKH   OK   TWO    CKNTUKIKN. 


71 


expectation  that  we  Hhoiild  not  inoluHt  you.  You  do  not  come 
armed,  with  uny  intentions  to  ninku  war.  You  come  in  peace 
to  trade  with  us,  and  to  supply  us  with  necessaries  of  which 
we  are  in  much  want.  We  shall  regard  you,  therefore,  as  a 
brother,  and  you  may  sleep  tranquilly  without  fear  of  the 
Ojibwas.  As  a  token  of  our  friendship,  we  present  you  thin 
pipe  to  smoke.'  As  Minavavana  uttered  these  words,  an 
Indian  presented  me  with  a  pipe,  which,  after  I  had  drawn  the 
Bnioke  three  times,  was  carried  to  the  chief  and  after  him  to 
every  person  in  the  room.  This  ceremony  ended,  the  chief 
arose  and  gave  me  his  hand,  in  which  he  was  followed  by  all 
the  rest." 

Mr.  Henry  made  a  suitabo  reply,  after  which  the  chief 
requested  him  to  distribute  some  whisky  among  his  men, 
which  he  did.  After  giving  them  a  few  presents,  they  departed 
to  the  great  joy  of  the  Englishman.  They  had  Imi'dly  disap- 
peared  when  Henry  was  summoned  to  meet  two  hundred 
Ottawa  braves,  in  council  near  the  fort.  They  hud  also  come 
to  pay  him  a  visit.  This  time  two  other  English  traders — 
Goddard  and  Solomons — were  also  invited  to  be  present.  Obe- 
dient to  the  wishes  of  these  new-comers,  the  Englishmen 
repaired  to  the  house  where  they  had  seated  themselves.  Here 
they  were  informed  that  they  must  distribute  their  goods 
among  the  Indians  on  credit,  on  the  promise  of  receiving  pay 
in  the  following  spring.  The  Ottawas  threatened  force  in  case 
of  refusal.  Being  permitted  to  reflect  on  this  demand  till  the 
following  morning,  the  traders  met  together  and  resolved  on 
resistance,  and,  accordingly,  arming  about  thirty  of  their  men 
with  muskets,  they  barricaded  themselves  in  the  house  occupied 
by  Henry,  and  kept  strict  watch  throughout  the  night.  The 
Indians,  however,  did  not  disturb  them.  On  the  following 
day,  several  Canadians  came  to  Henry  and  advised  him  to  give 
up  the  goods,  and  saying  that  if  he  did  not,  both  he  and  his 
companions  would  receive  no  mercy.  The  Englishmen  would 
not  listen  to  this  advice.  They  kept  possession  of  the  house 
and  their  goods  until  evening,  when,  to  their  happy  surprise, 
news  came  that  a  body  of  English  troops  were  advancing  to 
take  possession  of  the  fort.     Another  night  of  anxiety  passed, 


I 


n 


TIIK   LIVKH   OK    lltNTIAC    AND   TMJUUHKir. 


but  with  tlie  dawn  of  the  tullowing  rauriiing  the  Ottawu 
departed.  IinintMliattily  after  the  hoatti  of  the  Eii^liith  detach- 
ment were  Heeii  to  approach  tiie  hiiidin^  place.  The  fort  whh 
now  btroii^ly  garriHoned  hy  Britirth  HoldierH,  and  II(>iiry  and 
hJH  coiupanionrt  were,  for  a  time,  at  leaut,  prot«ct«><l  in  a  {xtacc- 
ful  prorteciition  of  the  fur  trade.  Hut  with  the  htpHe  of  a  few 
motithn  the  peril  of  their  HJtuation   wan  without  a  panillel. 

Time  pari^ed  on,  when  in  thenpringof  i7()li,  Pontiac'o  light- 
footed  inoHHengerH  arrived  at  Michilimackinac.  liearing  iu 
their  lumda  the  war-belt  of  hiauk  and  purple  wampum,  they 
appeared  before  the  aurtembled  warri«)rs,  flung  at  their  foot  a 
hatchet  painted  rad,  and  delivered  the  upeech  according  to  the 
dictation  of  their  Ottawu  chief.  The  auditors,  on  every  occa- 
Hlon,  took  U])  the  blood-red  hatchet,  and  thuH  pledged  themuelves 
to  aid  in  the  war. 

Ijite  in  the  month  of  May,  news  was  retreived  among  the 
Indians  at  Miuhiiimuckiuiic,  that  Pontiac  had  already  begun 
the  war,  and,  anxious  to  win  glory  for  themselves,  the  Ojibwas 
resolved  to  attack  the  British  fort  in  their  neighborhood  with- 
out inviting  their  brethren  at  L'Arbre  Croche  to  aid  them. 
At  this  time  the  fort  was  garrisoned  by  about  thirty-flve  sol- 
diers besides  the  officers.  They  had  been  warned,  time  and 
again,  that  the  Indians  were  preparing  to  destroy  tliem,  but 
(-aptain  Ktherington,  the  commandant,  refused  to  listen  to  any 
such  reports. 

Mr.  Henry,  who  was  in  the  fort  at  this  time,  received  warn- 
ing of  the  ap])roaching  calamity  in  a  curious  way,  and  as  his 
adventures  enter  largely  into  that  part  of  the  narrative  imme- 
diately following,  I  will  relate  the  circumstance  here:  An 
Ojibwa  chief,  called  Wawatam,  had  become  stnmgly  attached 
to  him.  One  morning  he  entered  his  house,  and,  placing 
before  Henry,  on  the  floor,  a  large  preseiit  of  furs  and  dried 
meat,  delivered  a  speech  to  the  following  efi'ect:  Early  in  life, 
according  to  the  ancient  usage  of  his  people,  he  had  retired  to 
fast  and  pray  in  solitude,  that  he  might  learn  the  future  career 
marked  out  for  him.  In  his  visions  and  dreams  on  this  occa- 
sion, it  was  revealed  to  him  that,  in  after  years,  he  should  meet 
a  white  man  who  should  be  to  him  a  friend  and  brother.     Aa 


•  )|{,    nil':    ll«i|(J)KK    WAKH    OK     IWu    ri:N'H-KIH>. 


7S 


Hooii  HH  ill)  liiul  Hooii  Ilcnry,  lie  wan  HiitiHtK><i  tliiit  \w  was  thu 
Miiiii  to  whom  ttio  <}i'eut  Spirit  litui  ivturuiitt*,  Htid  that  tho 
•Irniiii  wuH  now  fulHlIcci.  llmirv  iiuide  an  uppropriato  re})ly, 
gave  Hoiiu)  Hli^ht  pr(>McntH  in  rutnrn,  8inok«>.t  a  pipe  with  the 
Indian,  and,  aH  Wawatani  soon  after  lott  the  tort,  liu  Hoon  for> 
got  liiin.  Hut  had  he  then  known  that  this  singular  man  was 
to  Huve  him,  in  a  near  future,  from  a  iiorrihht  death,  he  would 
liiiv*^  Ween  Iohh  eareleHs  about  returning  his  avowed  friendship. 
Many  months  had  elapsed  since  thu  incident  to  which  I  have 
just  made  reference,  occurred,  when  on  the  second  of  June, 
17<(B,  l[unry*s  door  was  opened  without  ceremony,  and  the 
iliirk  figure  of  Wawatam  appeared.  After  thinking  carefully 
for  a  few  moments,  Mr.  Ilenry  remembered  him,  invited  him 
tu  a  seat,  and  inquired  as  to  the  success  of  his  winter's  hunt. 
Without  replying,  Wawatam  sat  down,  and  manifested  great 
8iirprise  at  finding  the  Englishman  still  in  the  fort.  He  said 
that  on  the  day  following,  lie  was  going  to  the  8aut  Ste.  Marie, 
and  that  he  wanted  ilenry  to  go  with  him.  lie  next  inquired 
if  his  friend  had  not  heard  bad  news,  and  continued,  that  he 
himself  "  had  been  much  disturbed  by  the  singing  of  evil  birds." 
Henry  took  but  little  notice  of  the  Indian's  warning,  and 
Wawatam  departed  with  a  sad  countenance.  On  the  following 
morning  Wawatam  again  returned,  and  pressed  Ilenry  to  leave 
the  fort.  "When  Henry  demanded  his  reason  for  such 
urgency,"  says  Parkman,  "  he  asked  if  his  brother  did  not 
know  thi»  ...any  bad  Indians,  who  had  never  shown  themselves 
at  the  fort,  were  emcaniped  in  the  woods  around  it.  To-mor- 
row, he  said,  they  are  coming  to  ask  for  whisky,  and  would  all 
get  drunk,  so  that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  remain."  Wawa- 
tam continued  to  advise  Henry  to  leave  the  fort  and  accompany 
him  to  the  Saut,  but  to  no  purpose.  The  Indian,  seeing  that 
he  could  not  induce  his  friend  to  escape  the  danger  which 
threatened  him,  departed  with  tears  in  his  eyes.  On  this  same 
afternoon,  Henry  says  that  the  fort  was  filled  with  savages 
moving  about  among  the  soldiers  with  many  appearances  of 
friendship.  Many  of  them  came  to  his  store  to  purchase 
knives  and  hatchets.  The  squaws  moved  about  within  the 
fort,  asking  to  see  silver  bracelets  and  other  ornaments,  not  for 


74 


TUB  uvn  or  foMiiAC  ▲^D  tJcciUMMKii. 


tlio  pnrpoio  of  purclioMiiig  thuin,  but,  as  it  afturwun!  apiNsarod, 
of  loarniiig  whore  thv)  wuru  kupt,  that  thuy  might  tho  mom 
oattily  lay  hiiitdit  upon  thum  whon  tiiu  MJaughtur  bvgan.  Night 
camo  on  and  thu  Indianii  rotirvd  to  tliuir  lodguH.  Thu  garrison 
untorod  tho  harraclcH,  and  Kottlod  into  a  Hound  sluep,  not  know- 
ing that  on  the  morrow  many  of  them  would  fall  l)enotttlt  tho 
tomahawk. 


■\ 


CHAPTEU    IX. 


TiiK  Mamaurh  — Tkk   Uamh  ok    UAi.r.  — Hi.auuiitrh  or  tiik  Oahki- 
■ON  —  Imuianh    I)i(inkin(»    tiik    Hrooit   or    Knoi.ihiimkn  -    lUin- 

BUKADTII    KiOAI'K  or  AN    ENOLIHU  TkaDEH.  * 

On  tiik  following  morning,  the  fourth  of  .hiiie,  muny  Ojlb- 
wtus  cunio  to  thu  fort,  inviting  otHcort  iind  8oi<li(>rH  to  coiiiu  out 
and  HOC  h  gniiul  giiine  of  ball,  which  wns  to  he  pluyt'd  hutwcen 
their  niition  iind  the  Sues.  In  n  few  nionicntH  thu  fort  wtu) 
half  dosurttil.  The  gates  were  luft  widu  open,  and  the  soldiers 
were  eollceted  in  groups  under  the  shadow  of  the  palinades 
watching  the  Indians  piny  bail.  They  were  all  without  arinB, 
nuHpeuting  nothing.  The  game  in  which  the  Indians  were 
engaged  was  called  haggattaway.  "  At  either  extremity  of  the 
ground,  a  tall  post  was  planted,  marking  the  stati(»ns  of  the 
rival  parties.  The  object  of  each  was  to  defend  its  own  post, 
and  drive  the  ball  to  that  of  its  adversary.  Hundreds  of  lithe 
and  agile  llgures  were  leaping  and  bounding  upon  flio  plain. 
Each  was  nearly  naked,  his  loose  black  hair  tlying  in  tiic  wind, 
and  each  bore  in  his  han<l  a  bat  of  a  form  peculiar  to  thia 
game.  At  one  moment  the  whole  were  crowded  ti)gether,  a 
dense  throng  of  combantants,  all  struggling  lor  the  ball;  at 
the  next  they  were  scattered  again,  and  running  over  the 
ground  like  hounds  in  full  cry."  The  ])articipant8  yelled  and 
shouted  at  the  tops  of  their  voices.  Suddenly  the  ball  soared 
high  from  the  midst  of  the  multitude,  and  fell  near  the  pickets 
of  the  fort.  "  Tliis  was  no  chance  stroke.  It  was  ])art  of  a 
preconcerted  stratagem  to  insure  the  surprise  and  destruction 
of  the  garrison.  As  if  in  pursuit  of  the  ball,  the  ])layer9 
rushed  towards  the  gate  of  the  fort,  and  yelling  the  war-whoop, 
they  snatched  the  hatchets  which  the  squaws  had  concealed 
ander  their  blankets.     Some  of  the  Indians  sprang  upon  the 

(75) 


7e 


TiiK  MviM  or  hJrrriAo  anu  rMrMKMi: 


v     ) 


i«p<'ctiititrri  witlMMtt,  while  otliom  riiMliinl  into  the  tort,  niul,  in  a 
iiioiiiciit  ull  WI114  ciiriiu^tt  urid  coiit'iiMioit.  At  tli<*  cotiitniMicc- 
iiictit,  Ktlicriri)(toii  iin«l  LcMJii)  w(*nt  N«>i/.c(l  iind  Inj  awiiy  iVoiii 

tllU  HCt'lH'  of    mill*i»IUM't'." 

Mr.  Akjxiimli'r  Ilfriry,  tVorii  wlioiri  I  Imv*-  jiiHt  qiiottMl,  j^ivcii 
tli<>  tollowiii^  lU'coiiiit  of  tli(<  iiiuriHiu'.rr  iinii  liiM  u<iv(tntiiritit  in 
(•oiiti«><'tioii  with  it:  "  I  diil  not  ^o  invHcIt'  to  m«<(i  tho  mutch 
wliicli  wuH  now  to  l)«*  pln\('<l  without  tin'  tort,  htH'uuMi^  tlit'rr 
ht'in^  u  I'linot!  prcimrcW  to  ilt>|)urt  on  tliif  to|lowin|(<lay  tor  Mon- 
fniii.  1  rni|)loy('(l  niyKcIf  in  writing  lottiTK  to  my  tVit'iuJH;  and, 
(tven  winni  u  tollow-trudiT,  Mr.  iVucy,  liappctied  to  ciill  upon 
mu  Hiiyin^,  tliiit  iinotluT  ciinot)  liad  jiiHt  arrived  tVoin  Detroit, 
ttn<l  propoHin^  that  t  HJiotdd  ^o  witli  liiru  to  tlit>  lii'ucli,  it  ho 
hiip|M>ned  tliat  I  Htill  runniincd  to  tiniMJi  my  IctterM,  promiHin^ 
to  t'olluw  Mr.  Trucy  in  tlie  courHi'  ot"  a  tew  iiiintiteH.  Mr. 
Tracy  hud  not  ^onu  moro  than  twenty  paccK  t'rom  my  door, 
when  I  heard  an  Indian  war  cry,  and  a  iioiHe  of  ;;etieral  con- 
fu»<i(»n.  (foin^  inntantly  to  my  window,  I  huw  a  <'rowd  of 
Indiana  witliin  the  fort  furioUHJy  <'uttiu^  down  and  sculp- 
in^;  every  Kn;^li>'hnnin  they  found;  in  particular,  I  witnuHHud 
the  fate  of  Lii>ut.  Jamette.  I  had  in  the  room  in  \vhi(;li  I  wu8, 
a  fowling  piece  louded  with  Hwan  Hhot.  Thin  I  immediately 
Beixed  and  held  it  fur  a  few  niinutcH  waiting  to  hear  tho  drum 
beat  to  arniH.  In  this  dreadful  interval,  I  naw  heveral  of  my 
couMh'ymen  fall,  and  more  than  om*  Htruj^^lin^  Uitween  the 
knees  of  an  Indian  who,  holdinn^  liim  in  thirt  manner,  Hcal|)tid 
him  while  yet  living.  At  length  diHuppointed  in  tin?  hope  of 
8eein«;  resistaiu'c  made  to  tho  enemy,  and  Hensiltle,  of  course, 
that  no  etfort  of  my  own  unasHiHted  arm  (ton Id  avail  against 
four  hundred  IndiauH,  I  thouj^ht  only  of  neekin^  shelter  amid 
the  slaughter  which  was  ra^injf.  I  observed  many  of  the 
Canadian  inhabitantH  of  the  fort  calmly  looking  on,  neither 
opposing  the  Indiana  nor  8utl'erin|?  injury,  and  from  this  cir- 
cumHtance  I  conceived  u  hope  of  finding  se(;urity  in  their 
houses.  Between  the  yard  door  of  my  own  house,  an<l  that  of 
Mr.  Langlade,  my  next  neighbor,  there  was  oidy  a  low  fence, 
over  which  I  easily  climbed.  At  my  entrance  I  found  the 
whole  family  at  the  windows,  gazing  at  the  scene  of  blood 


OK,    TUK    IKkKHKH    WAKM   oy    IWO  OKNTIi  Kl  !;;(•. 


TT 


h4>t(>rt*  thotii.     I  nil(lr(*HHt<4|  iiiyMclf  iiniiKKliMtcl^  t4>  Mr.   \,m\g' 
luil«'.  Ix'KK'")?  t'"^^  ''*'  would  put  inu  itittt  moiiim  \Ani'v  of  mfvtty 
until  tli(*  lifiit  of  lUv  iiMitir  nliould  Ih)  ovur,  tui  HCt  of  uluirity  hy 
wliii'li  liu  inlKlit,  |K>rliu|>H,  |ir«!M«>rv»  iim«  from  tliu  ^'uorul  niniiMH. 
cro.     Hut  wliili>  I  uttc*n!<i  my  |)«*tition,  Mr.  Lhii^IiuIu,  wIu»  hud 
liHtkiMl   for  tk   luotiiiMit  nt   in«s   turiUMl   u^uin    to  tin*  window, 
Hlirii^K>»K  '''**  MliouldiirH  iind  iritinuitiri^  tiuit  li»  could  do  n(»th- 
in^  for  me.      'lUix  wuit  h  momiuit  of  di'Mpuir,  Wut  tliu  ix'xt  b 
I'liiii  womun,  H  nlnvo  of  Mr.  liiui^ludi)*M,  l)ut;koiiud  mu  to  follow 
bor.    She  brought  me  to  u  d(»or,  wliicli  hIio  o|K!iu!d,  d(iitirinf<  me 
U)  (Uitor,  Hiid  telling  mo  it  led   to  the  ^iirrot  wlieru  I  muHt  ^) 
tttui  coiiccul  mvHulf.     I  joyfully  otwytKl  hur  direct  Ioiih,  and  hIio, 
liiiviii^  followed  me  up  to  tliu  f^iirrut  door,  locke<l   it  ufter  me, 
and  with  ^reiit   pri'Heiico  of  mind  took   Hwuy  tlie  key.     This 
gliolter  ohtuiiied,  if  nhelter  I  coidd  hope  to  find  it,  1  wiih  nutu- 
rnlly  mixioiiM  to  know  whiit  might  still  he  puMsing  without 
Through  rtn  aperture  which  uHorded  me  a  view  of  the  area  of 
the  fort,  1  heheld,  in  Hhapen,  the  fouloHt  and  tnoHt  terrible,  the 
ferocious  tritimpliH  of  hurharian  conquurora.     The  dead  vvf>ro 
Hciilped  and  numgled.     The  dying  were  writhing  and  MJirieking 
under  the  iuHatiato  knit\>  and  tomahawk,  and,  from  the  lM»dieM 
of  rtotne,  ripptMl  open,  their  butchers  were  drinking  tlie  blood, 
scooped  up  in  the  hollow  of  joined  hands,  and  (piaffed  amid 
shouts  of  rage  and  victory.     I  was  shaken,  not  only  with  hor- 
ror, but  with  fear.     The  suHcring  wiiicli  I  witnesHe<l,  I  seemed 
on  the  point  of  experiencing.     No  long  time  elapsed  before 
every  one  being  destroyed  who  coidd  be  found,  there  was  a 
general  cry  of  all  is  finished.     At  the  same  instant  I  heard 
fiiomo  of  the  In<lianH  enter  the  liouse  where  I  was.     The  garret 
was  separated  from  the  room  below,  only  by  a  layer  of  single 
boards,  at  once  the  flooring  of  the  one  and  the  ceiling  of  the 
other.     I  could,  therefore,  hear  everything  that  passed,  and 
the  Indians  no  sooner  came  in  than  they  inquired  whether  or 
not  any  Englishmen  were  in  the  house.     Mr.  Langlade  replied 
that  he  could  not  say.     He  did  not  know  of  any,  answers  in 
which  he  did  not  ex(«ed  the  truth,  for  the  Pani  woman  had  not 
only  hidden  rae  by  stealth,  but  kept  my  secret  and  her  own. 
Mr.  Langlade  was,  therefore,  I  presume,  as  far  from  a  wish  to 


78 


THK    I.IVI->*   OK    l-ONTiAO   AND   TKOUMSKH : 


>i 


destroy  me,  as  ho  was  cai  iless  about  saving  me,  whon  he  added 
to  these  answers,  that  they  might  examine  for  themselves,  and 
would  soon  be  satisfied  as  to  the  object  of  their  question.    Say- 
ing this  he  brougiit  them  to  the  garret  door.    The  state  of  my 
mind  will  be  imagined.     Arrived  at  the  door,  some  delay  was 
occasioned  by  the  absence  of  the  key,  and  a  few  moments 
were  thus  allowed  mo,  in  which  to  look  around  for  a  hiding 
place.     In  one  corner  of  the  gari-^t  was  a  heap  of  those  vessels 
of  birch  bark,  used  in  maple  sugar  making.    The  door  was 
unlocked  and  opened,  and  the  Indians,  ascending  the  stairs 
before  I  had  completly  crept  into  a  small  opening,  which  pre- 
sented itself  at  one  end  of  the  heap.     An  instant  after  four 
Indians  entered  the  room,  all  armed  with  tomahawks,  and  all 
besmeared  with  blood  upon  every  part  of  their  bodies.    The 
die  appeared  to  be  cast.     I  could  scarcely  breathe,  but  I  thought 
the  throbbing  of  my  heart  occasioned  noise  loud  enough  to 
betray  me.    The  Indians  walked  in  every  direction  about  the 
garret,  and  one  of  them  approaclied  me  so  closely  that  at  a 
particular  inoment,  had  he  put  forth  his  hand  he  must  have 
touched  me.     Still  I  remained  undiscovered,  a  circumstance  to 
which  the  dark  color  of  my  clothes,  and  the  want  of  light  in 
the  room  which  had  no  window  in  the  corner  in  which  I  was, 
must  have  contributed.     In  a  word,  after  taking  several  turns 
in  the  room,  during  which  they  told  Mr.  Langlade  how  many 
they  had  killed,  and  how  many  scalps  they  had  taken,  they 
returned  down  stairs,  and  I,  with  sensations  not  to  be  expressed, 
heard  the  door,  which  was  the  barrier  between  me  and  my 
fate,  locked  for  the  second  time.    There  was  a  feather-bed  on 
the  floor,  and,  on  this,  exhausted  aa  I  was,  by  the  agitation  of 
my  mind.  T  threw  myself  down  and  went  to  sleep.     In  this 
state  I  remained  till  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  when  I  was  awak- 
ened by  the  second  opening  of  the  door.     The  person  that  now 
entered  was  Mr.  Langlade's  wife,  who  was  much  surprised  at 
finding  me,  but  advised  me  not  to  be  uneasy,  observing  that 
the  Indians  had  killed  most  of  the  English,  but  that  she  hoped 
I  might,  myself,  escape.     A  shower  of  rain  having  begun  to 
fall,  she  had  come  to  stop  a  hole  in  the  roof.    On  her  going 
away,  I  begged  her  to  send  me  a  little  water  to  drink,  which 


OB,  THE   BOROKR   WAB8  UF  TWO  (WNTCRIEB. 


W 


Bhe  did.  As  night  was  now  advancing,  I  continued  to  lie  on 
the  bed,  ruminating  on  my  condition,  but  unable  to  discover  a 
resource  from  which  I  could  hope  for  life.  A  flight  to  Detroit 
had  no  probable  chance  of  success.  The  distance  from  Mieh- 
ilimackinac  was  four  hundred  miles,  and  I  was  without 
provisions,  and  the  whole  length  of  the  road  lay  through 
Indian  countries — countries  of  an  enemy  in  arms,  where  the 
tirst  man  whom  I  should  meet  would  kill  me.  To  stay  where 
I  was  threatened  nearly  the  bame  issue.  As  before,  fatigue  of 
mind,  and  not  tranquility,  suspended  my  cares  and  procured 
me  further  sleep.  The  respite  which  sleep  afforded  mo  during 
the  night  was  put  an  end  to  by  the  return  of  morning.  I  was 
again  on  the  rack  of  apprehension.  At  sunrise  I  heard  the 
family  stirring,  and  presently  after,  Indian  voices,  informing 
Mr.  Langlade  that  they  had  not  found  my  hap'  -s  self  among 
the  dead,  and  they  supposed  me  to  be  somewhere  concealed. 
Mr.  Langlade  appeared,  from  what  followed,  to  be,  by  this 
time,  acquainted  with  my  place  of  retreat,  of  which,  no  doubt, 
he  had  been  informed  by  his  wife.  The  poor  woman,  as  soon 
as  the  Indians  mentioned  me,  declared  to  her  husband  in  the 
French  tongue,  that  he  should  no  longer  keep  me  in  his  house, 
but  deliver  nae  up  to  my  pursuers,  giving  as  a  reason  for  this 
measure  that  should  the  Indians  discover  his  instrumentality 
in  my  concealment,  they  might  revenge  it  on  her  children,  and 
that  it  was  better  that  I  should  die  than  they.  Mr.  Langlade 
resisted  at  first,  this  sentence  of  his  wife,  but  soon  suffered  her 
to  prevail,  informing  the  Indians  that  he  had  been  told  that  I 
was  in  his  house;  that  I  had  come  there  without  his  knowl- 
edge, and  that  he  would  put  me  into  their  hands.  This  was  no 
sooner  expressed  than  ho  began  to  ascend  the  stairs,  the  Indi- 
ans following  upon  his  heels.  I  now  resigned  myself  to  the 
fate  with  which  I  was  menaced;  and  regarding  every  effort  at 
concealment  as  vain,  I  arose  from  the  bed,  and  presented 
myself  full  in  view  to  the  Indians,  who  were  entering  the 
room.  They  were  all  in  a  state  of  intoxication,  and  entirely 
naked,  except  about  the  middle.  One  of  them  named  Wen- 
niway,  whom  I  had  previously  known,  and  who  was  upwards 
of  six  feet  in  height,  had  his  entire  face  and  body  covered  with 


80 


TUK   IJVBS  OF   PONTIAO   AND   TKClIMSkli: 


charcoal  and  grease,  only  that  a  white  spot,  of  two  inches  in 
diameter,  encircled  each  eye.  This  man,  walking  up  to  me, 
seized  me  with  one  hand  by  the  collar  of  the  coat,  while  in  the 
other  he  held  a  large  carving  knife,  as  if  to  plunge  it  into  my 
breast;  his  eyes,  meanwhile,  were  fixed  steadfastly  on  mine. 
At  length,  after  some  seconds  of  the  most  anxious  suspense, 
he  dropped  his  arm,  saying,  'I  won't  kill  you  I'  To  this  he 
added  that  he  had  been  frequently  engaged  in  wars  against  the 
English,  and  liad  brought  away  many  scalps;  that  on  a  certain 
occasion,  he  had  lost  a  brother,  whose  name  was  Musinigon, 
And  that  I  should  be  called  after  him.  A  reprieve  upon  any 
terms  placed  me  among  the  living,  and  gave  me  back  the  sus- 
taining voice  of  hope;  but  Wenniway  ordered  me  down  stairs, 
and  there  informed  mo  that  I  was  to  be  taken  to  his  cabin, 
where,  and  indeed  everywhere  else,  the  Indians  were  all  mad 
with  liquor,  death  again  was  threatened,  and  not  as  possible 
only,  but  as  certain.  I  mentioned  my  fears  on  this  subject  to 
Mr.  Langlade,  begging  him  to  represent  them  to  my  master. 
Mr.  Langlade,  in  this  instance,  did  not  withhold  his  compas- 
sion, and  Wenniway  immediately  consented  that  I  should 
remain  where  I  was,  until  he  found  another  opportunity  to 
take  meaway."  ,  ^         , 


V 


CHAPTER    X. 

AnVBNTURBS  OF   EnOLIBH   TrAOBRB    at    MiCHIIilMACKINAC  — ThBT   ARS 
llESCCBD    BT    THB     OtTAWAB  — TREATMENT     OF    THE     PRIBONERB  — 

Henry's  Ebcapb—Cannibalibm  — Reduction  of  au,  the  Wkbtbbn 
Odtpobtb  except  Detroit. 

Hbnbt  had  not  enjoyed  an  hour's  peace  when  an  Indian 
came  to  the  house  where  he  was  and  ordered  hin^  to  follow 
him  to  the  Ojibwa  camp.  Henry  knew  this  man,  and  suspected 
treachery,  but  there  was  no  alternative.  Following  him  through 
the  gate  his  suspicions  were  soon  confirmed.  The  Indian, 
instead  of  proceeding  to  the  camp,  turned  in  the  direction  of 
the  woods.  At  this  Henry  refused  to  follow,  and  openly  charged 
him  with  his  design.  The  Indian  acknowledged  that  his  inten- 
tion was  to  take 'his  life,  and  at  the  same  moment  drew  his 
taife  to  strike  the  fatal  blow.  At  this  instant  the  trader  stepped 
aside,  and  escaping  the  stroke  he  ran  for  his  life.  Entering 
the  gate  of  the  fort  he  observed  Wenniway  standing  in  the 
centre  of  the  area,  and  he  called  out  to  him  for  assistance.  The 
chief  ordered  the  Indian  to  desist ;  but  the  enraged  savage 
would  not  obey  him,  and  continued  the  pursuit,  striking  at  him 
with  his  knife  as  they  ran  round  and  round  the  chief  Observ- 
ing the  door  of  Mr.  Langlade's  house  open,  Henry  ran,  escaped 
through  it,  and  once  more  found  himself  alone  in  his  garret 
prison.  Early  in  the  night,  as  he  lay  asleep  on  his  rude  couch, 
the  door  was  opened,  and  he  was  ordered  to  descend.  He  did 
80,  when,  to  his  great  joy,  he  found  in  the  room  below,  Capt. 
Etherington,  Lieut.  Leslie  and  Mr.  Bostwick,  a  trader,  together 
with  Father  Jonois,  the  Jesuit  priest  from  L'Arbre  Croche. 

The  Indians  being  now  about  to  enjoy  a  drunken  carouse 
upon  the  liquor  they  had  seized,  and  the  chiefs,  fully  aware  of 
the  danger  to  which  the  prisoners  would  be  exposed  during 
6  (81) 


82 


TilU    LIVBS   OF    FOMTIAO   AND   TKOUMHifili: 


these  revelb,  had  cuiiveyed  them  all  into  the  tort  and  placed 
them  in  charge  of  the  (vHuadiane.  '^  Including  ofticerH,  soldiers 
and  traders,  they  a>nt»unted  to  ahout  twenty,  this  handful  beinj; 
all  that  escaped  the  massacre."  When  Henry  entered  the  room 
he  found  his  three  companions  discussing  a  very  important 
questipn.  The  Indians  had  already  retired  to  their  village,  and 
the  fort  was  actually  in  the  hands  of  the  white  people — twenty 
Englishmen  and  about  three  hundred  French  Canadians.  To 
close  the  gates  and  take  possession  of  the  fort  would  be  au  easy 
matter,  and  it  would  have  been  attempted  had  not  the  Jesuit 
discouraged  the  plan.  lie  represented  that  perhaps  the  Frencli 
would  prove  treacherous,  and  that,  should  they  fail  in  their 
plans,  every  Englishman  in  the  place  would  meet  certain  death. 
The  idea  was  therefore  abandoned.  The  night  passed  in  quiet, 
and  in  the  morning  several  warriors  came  to  tiie  house  and 
summoned  Henry  to  follow  them.  He  was  led  to  a  house  in 
which  two  traders  and  a  soldier  were  imprisoned.  These  were 
released  and  ordered  to  join  the  company.  They  were  then 
led  to  the  lake  shore,  where  they  were  to  embark  for  the  Isles 
du  Castor.  "  A  chilling  wind  blew  strongly  from  the  north- 
east, and  the  lake  was  covered  with  niists  and  tossing  angrily. 
Henry  stood  shivering  on  the  beach,  with  no  other  upper  gar- 
ment than  a  shirt,  drenched  with  the  cold  rain.  He  asked 
Langlade,  who  was  near  him,  for  a  blanket,  which  the  latter 
with  cold-blooded  inhumanity  refused  to  furnish  unless  security 
was  given  for  payment.  Another  Canadian  proved  more  mer- 
ciful, and  Henry  received  a  covering  from  the  weather.  Witii 
his  three  companions,  guartled  by  seven  Indians,  he  embarked 
in  the  canoe,  the  soldier  being  tied  by  his  neck  to  one  of  the 
cross-bars  of  the  vessel.  The  thick  mists  and  the  tempestuous 
weather  compelled  them  to  keep  along  the  shore,  close  beneath 
the  wet,  dripping  forests.  In  this  manner  they  had  proceeded 
about  eighteen  miles,  and  were  approaching  L'Arbre  Croche, 
when  an  Ottawa  Indian  came  out  of  the  woods  and  called  to 
them  from  the  beach,  inquiring  the  news  and  asking  who  were 
their  prisoners.  Some  conversation  followed,  in  the  course  of 
which  the  canoe  approached  the  shore  where  the  water  was 
very  shallow,"     At  this  juncture  a  loud  yell  was  heard,  and  a 


OK,    THK    UOUDKU    WAUK   UK    I'Wn   (!KN'1'IIKIK8. 


88 


hundred  Ottiiwas,  rining  from  the  shrubbery,  rushed  into  the 
wuter  uud  dui/ud  upon  the  cuiioe  uud  priHoners.  The  astonished 
Ojibwas  reuioustratecJ,  but  to  no  purpose.  The  prisoners  were 
all  taken  from  them,  and  conducted  to  the  shore  in  safety. 
Thirt  interference  was  the  result  of  a  jealousy  which  the  Ottawaa 
entertained  against  their  bretiiren,  tlio  Ojibwas,  for  entering 
into  the  war  witliout  consulting  them  and  giving  them  an 
opportunity  to  share  in  the  plunder. 

The  Ottawas  now  assured  the  rescued  prisoners  that  the 
Ojibwas  were  carrying  them  to  the  Isles  du  (Castor  merely  to 
kill  and  eat  them.  They  were  then  placed  in  Ottawa  canoes, 
and  were  soon  on  their  way  back  to  the  fort.  They  were  accom- 
panied  by  a  large  fleet  of  canoes  and  a  strong  band  of  Ottawa 
warriors.  Before  the  day  was  overall  had  arrived  at  Michili- 
mackinac.  Landing  their  canoes,  the  Ottawas  marched,  in 
Indian  file,  into  the  fort,  and  took  possession  of  it,  while  at  a 
short  distance  hundreds  of  Ojibwa  warriors  looked  on  in  aston- 
ishment. The  night  passed  without  any  important  event,  but 
on  the  following  morning  the  Ojibwa  chiefs  invited  the  prin- 
cipal men  of  the  Ottawas  to  hold  a  council  with  them  in  a 
building  within  the  fort.  A  valuable  present  of  goods  wao 
placed  upon  tlie  floor,  it  being  a  part  of  the  plunder  they  had 
taken  ;  and  their  great  war  chief,  Minavavana,  who  had  con- 
ducted the  massacre,  rose  and  addressed  the  Ottawas.  "  Your 
conduct,"  he  said,  "has  greatly  surprised  me.  You  have 
betrayed  our  common  cause,  and  opposed  the  will  of  the  Great 
Spirit,  who  has  decreed  that  every  Englishman  must  die. 
Excepting  you,  all  the  Indians  have  raisetl  the  hatchet.  Pon- 
tiac  has  ta'ceu  Detroit,  and  every  other  fort  has  also  been 
destroyed.  The  English  are  meeting  with  destruction  through- 
out the  whole  world.  The  King  of  France  has  awakened  from 
his  sleep."  In  conclusion  he  exhorted  them  no  longer  to 
espouse  the  cause  of  the  English,  but,  like  their  brethren,  to 
lift  the  hatchet  against  thera. 

According  to  the  Indian  custom,  when  the  Ojibwa  chief 
concluded  his  speech,  the  council  adjourned  till  the  next  day, 
when  it  was  again  convened.  At  this  meeting  the  Ottawas 
expressed  a  willingness  to  settle  the  afair,  which  they  did  by 


84 


TIIK    I.IVKs   OK    h^NTIAc;    ANI»   TK«'ir.M8KII : 


dividing  the  prirtoiuirn  uiid  tlic  plunder.  The  Ottawas  retained 
the  officers  and  tht;  soldiern  while  the  traders  were  given  up  to 
their  conquerors.  Tho  prisoners  taken  by  the  Ottawas  were 
treated  with  kindness. 

The  prisoners  that  were  given  bacrk  to  the  Ojibwaa  were 
taken  by  the  latter  to  one  of  their  villages  in  the  vicinity  of 
Michiliinackinac  and  imprisoned  in  the  council  houHC.  They 
were  securely  bound  together  and  to  the  posts  that  supported 
the  lodge,  No  sooner  had  the  traders  been  thus  confined  than 
the  building  was  tilled  with  savages  who  seemed  to  take  great 
delight  in  jeering  the  captives.  At  the  head  of  the  lodge  sat 
the  great  war  chief  of  the  Ojibwa  nation,  with  Wenniway  at 
his  side.  Henry  was  among  the  prisoners.  Turning  round 
he  noticed  Wawatum,  his  friend,  entering  at  the  door.  This 
was  the  same  Indian  who  visited  Henry  on  the  day  before  the 
massacre  and  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  leave  the  forti 
He  now  passed  Henry,  stopping  only  to  shake  him  by  the 
hand,  and  took  a  seat  beside  Wenniway  at  the  head  of  the 
lodge.  After  he  had  smoked  with  them  a  while  in  silence  he 
rose  and  went  out  again,  but  soon  returned,  followed  by  his 
squaw,  who  brought  with  her  a  valuable  present,  which  she 
laid  at  the  feet  of  the  two  chiefs.  Wawatam  then  addressed 
them  in  the  following  language  :  "  Friends  and  relations, 
what  is  it  that  I  shall  say?  You  know  what  1  feel.  You  all 
have>  friends,  and  brothers,  and  children,  whom  as  yourselves 
you  love;  and  you — what  would  you  experience  did  you,  like 
me,  behold  your  dearest  friend — your  brother — in  the  condi- 
tion of  a  slave;  a  slave,  exposed  every  nutment  to  insult,  and 
to  menaces  of  deaths  This  case,  as  you  all  know,  is  mine. 
See  there,  (pointing  to  Henry)  my  friend  and  my  brother 
among  slaves — himself  a  slave!  You  all  well  know  that,  long 
before  the  war  began  I  adopted  him  as  my  brother.  From 
that  moment  he  became  one  of  my  family,  so  that  no  change 
of  circumstances  could  break  the  cord  which  fastened  us 
together.  He  is  my  brother,  and  because  I  am  your  relation 
he  is  therefore  your  relation,  too;  and  how,  being  your  rela- 
tion, can  he  be  your  slave?  On  the  day  on  which  the  war 
began,  you  were  fearful  lest,  on  this  very  account  I  should 


.  OB,   THE    BDUDKK    WARH   OF    TWO   OENTURIKH. 


85 


reveal  your  aecrot.  You  requested,  therefore,  that  I  shonid 
leave  the  fort,  aud  even  croHH  the  lake.  I  did  so,  but  I  did  it 
with  reluctance.  I  did  it  witli  reluctance,  notwithstanding^ 
that  you,  Minavavatia,  who  hnd  the  command  in  this  enter- 
prise, gave  me  your  promise  that  you  would  protect  my  friend, 
delivering  him  from  all  danger,  and  giving  him  safely  to  me. 
The  performance  of  this  promise  I  now  claim.  I  come  not 
with  empty  hands  to  ask  it.  You,  Minavavana,  best  know 
whether  or  not,  as  it  respects  yourself,  you  have  kept  your 
word;  but  1  bring  these  goods  to  buy  off  every  claim  which 
any  man  among  you  all  may  have  on  my  brother  as  his 
prisoner." 

The  great  Ojibwa  chief  replied  to  this  speech  in  a  favorable 
manner.  Hin  presents  were  accepted  and  Henry  was  released. 
Wawatani  conducted  hiiii  to  his  lodge,  which  was  only  a  few 
paces  distant,  and  there  treated  him  as  his  brother.  Hero 
Henry  enjoyed  once  more  peace  of  mind  and  a  night's  rest, 
lioth  of  which  he  had  been  deprived  of  for  several  days.  On 
the  following  day,  as  he  sat  comfortably  within  Wawatam's 
lodge,  he  heard  a  great  noise  in  the  prison-house,  which  stood 
near  by,  and,  raising  up,  he  beheld  the  dead  bodies  of  seven  of 
the  prisoners  dragged  forth.  They  had  been  slain  by  a  noted 
chief,  who  had  just  returned  from  the  winter's  hunt.  Having 
(!ome  too  late  to  take  part  in  the  gran<l  achievement  of  his 
tribesmen,  he  took  this  method  of  signifying  his  approval  of 
what  had  been  done.  With  this  design  lie  had  entered  the 
prison-lodge  and  murdered  seven  of  the  soldiers  with  his  knife. 

Now  came  the  scenes  of  canibalism.  The  Indians  sought 
to  increase  their  bravei y  by  feasting  on  the  bodies  of  their 
slain  enemies,  I  shall  not  shock  the  reader  with  a  description 
of  this  sickening  feast.  It  was  conducted  in  the  presence  of 
the  few  remaining  prisoners,  and  ir.ust  have  been  a  painful 
sight  to  them. 

It  was  now  about  one  week  since  the  massacre  occurred. 
The  Indians  began  to  fear  the  approach  of  the  English,  and 
determined  to  remove  to  some  place  where  they  would  be  able 
to  defend  themselves  against  an  attack.  Accordingly  three 
hundred  and  fifty  warriors,  with  their  families  and  household 


TIIK    MVM   or    l-DNTIAO    AND   TCCUMHKM I 


I 


effect*,  tJtnbarketl  in  their  cunoeH  for  the  itthiiid  «>t'  Mackinttw, 
which  tliey  reached  in  natety.  Hero  they  ereetiHl  their  U)d^s 
and  planted  their  little  viliagt^  Henry  and  hin  friend  Wawa- 
tani  were  among  the  nunil)er. 

The  OjibwaH  had  no  Booner  nettled  down  on  thiH  beautiful 
island  than  they  were  virtited  by  Pontiac'n  iiu'sseiigerB,  who 
represented  that  the  Ottawa  chief  was  still  besieging  Detroit 
and  desired  them  to  hasten  to  liin  assistamte.  The  Indians 
listened  to  the  invitation  but  tlu\v  would  not  accept  it. 
Already  they  were  beginning  to  fear  the  consequences  of  thoir 
onset  against  the  garrison  at  Michiliinackinac,  and  they  w«'re 
now  more  anxious  tt)  secure  a  place  of  safety  than  to  continue 
the  war. 

The  fort  at  Green  Hay,  and  the  Saut  Ste.  Marie,  did  not  share 
the  fate  of  Michilinia(!kinac.  During  the  winter  previous  the 
.atter  fort  had  been  partially  destroyinl  by  fire  and  was  there, 
fore  abandoned,  the  garrison  withdrawing  to  Michiliniackinac 
wlu're  most  of  them  j)erishe<l  in  the  massacre.  The  fort  at 
Green  Bay  was  iirst  garrisoned  in  1761.  The  force  (consisted 
of  seventeen  men,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Garell.  This  officer, 
by  his  judicious  policy,  gained  the  friendship  of  all  the  Indians 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  fort.  On  the  fifteenth  of  June,  17(53,  he 
received  the  following  letter  from  Captain  Etherington,  wh»> 
had  lately  commanded  at  Fort  Michilimackituie,  and  was  now 
a  prisoner  at  the  Ottawa  village  of  L'Arbre  Croche  : 

"  MicHiuMACKiNAC,  Juiie  11,  1768. 

"Dkar  Sra:  —  Th la  place  waa  taken  by  surprise  on  the  fourth  Insfiint 

by  the  Ojibwas,  at  whicli  time  Lieut.  Janiet  and  twenty  (fifteen)  more  were 

killed  and  all  the  rest  taken  prisoners;  but  our  good  Mends,  the  Ottawas, 

have  taken  Lieut.  Lesley,  me,  and  eleven  men  out  of  their  hands,  and  have 

promised   to  reinstate  us  again.    You'll,  therefore,  on  receipt  of  this, 

which  I  send  by  a  canoe  of  Ottawas,  set  out  with  all  your  garrison  and 

what  English  traders  you  have  with  you,  and  come  with  the  Indian  who 

^ivCvS  you  this,  who  will  conduct  you  safe  to  me.    You  must  be  sure  to 

follow  the  instruction  yon  receive  from  the  bearer  of  this,  as  you  are  by 

no  means  to  come  to  this  post  before  you  see  me  at  the  village  twenty 

miles  from  this.    I  must  once  more  beg  you'll  lose  no  time  In  coming  to 

join  me ;  at  the  same  time  be  very  careful,  and  always  be  on  your  guard. 

I  long  much  to  see  you,  and  am,  dear  sir,  your  most  humble  servant. 

"Geo.  Ethbbinotoh. 
"J.  QxRELii,  Roya)  Americans." 


OK,   TIIK    HOKDKH    WARH   or   TWO    OKN'rUKIKM. 


87 


Immediately  on  reoeiviitfj^  thiH,  Ourell  Hutont  with  hitt  ^nrri- 
gon,  acoompnnit'd  by  ninety  wjirriorH  in  canoes.  Garoll'H  party 
were  in  bateaux.  Arrivinjf  at  I/Arbre  Crocho,  tlie  Ottawa** 
ciinio  out  to  njoet  thoni  and  prcsenttKl  tlieni  with  t)\v  pipe  of 
police.  Capt.  Etheriufj^ton  and  Lietit.  Lenlio,  and  eleven  men, 
wore  detainwl  in  thii*  viilap^e  a8  priHonors,  but  wen'  treated 
with  kindnertH.  Scvt^nil  Indian  councilH  were  now  lield,  after 
which  theOttiiwas  roUiUHod  tlieir  j)riHonerH.  On  the  ei^Iitconth 
of  J»lv  the  Enf(li8h.  eHcorte<l  l>y  a  fleet  of  Indian  canoes,  left 
L'ArbreCroohe  t\>r  Montreal,  where  tliey  arrived  in  the  follow- 
iiijf  August.  Excepting  the  garrison  of  Detroit,  not  a  British 
Huldier  now  remaine<l  in  the  region  of  the  lakes. 


CHAPTER    XI 


COMIiNITATIoN  or  TIIK  HlKOK  or  DlCTHOIT  —  AdVKNTIJHBI  OF  A 
H('M1M>NKH  ON  TIIK  DkTIIOIT  KiVRK— DKKKAT  UV  TIIK  IlfUIAMt  — 
I'ONTIAC  Al'I'BALH  TO  TIIK  FitKNOII  KOH  AbHIHTAMC'K  —  lIoUHIBLI 
DkaTII  OK  CaIT.  I'/'AMfBRIX  — TuK  WyANDOTI  AND  I'oTTAWATOMIU 
HUR   KOH   PkAOB.  . 

liicr  U8  unce  more  return  tu  tho  cninp  of  I'uiitiau  and  the 
gurriHoii  at  Detroit.  It  will  bu  remembered  tbat  Homo  time 
before  the  arrival  of  the  news  of  the  slaughter  of  CuylorV 
detachment,  one  of  tlu;  veuHelH  had  left  the  fort,  pasDed  do\vn 
the  river,  and  proceeded  towardu  Niagara  to  hapten  up  thin 
same  reinforcement.  The  schooner  had  pasned  Ctiyler's 
detachment,  probably  while  it  was  encamped  near  tho  mouth 
of  the  Detroit  river,  and  had  sailed  down  to  Niagara,  whore  it 
remained  until  the  return  of  Cuylor,  as  already  explained,  to 
report  his  loss.  This  officer,  and  the  survivors  of  his  party, 
with  a  few  other  troops  spared  from  tho  garrison  of  Niagara, 
were  now  ordered  to  embark  on  board  of  tliis  vessel,  and  make 
their  way  to  Detroit  as  sjon  as  ])08sible.  Thoy  Iiad  done  so, 
and  were  now  almost  within  sight  of  the  fort.  However,  the 
most  dangerous  part  of  tlie  journey  was  yet  to  be  performed. 
In  many  places  the  channel  of  the  river  was  narrow,  and  a 
thousand  infuriated  warriors  lay  in  ambush  to  interrupt  her  pass- 
age. Several  days  passed  and  notliing  further  was  heard  of  the 
expecte<l  schooner.  On  the  twenty-first,  a  great  commotion 
was  noticed  among  the  Indians,  and  soon  after  a  Frenchman 
came  to  the  fort  with  the  intelligence  that  the  vessel  was  again 
attempting  to  ascend  the  river,  and  that  a  thousand  warriors 
had  gone  down  to  capture  her.  Two  cannon  were  immediately 
discharged  so  tliat  the  distant  schooner  might  know  the  fort 
was  still  in  the  hands  of  the  English.     Not  long  after  she 

(»8) 


UN,   TIIK    IIOKDICM    WAKM    OV   TWO   dCNTITRini. 


81> 


it|)|H'iirc4i,  iMlvuiicin^  nIdwIv  tip  t)i«t  river.  Tlu<ri<  woru  hIkxii 
sixty  men  on  iMwrd,  but  otil}'  u  tV>w  of  thuiii  won)  vii«iblo  on 
ticck.  Tlii*y  IiimI  Interi  unlvrt)!  Inflow,  in  tlii;  liopt'N  thnt  tlu* 
IiKiiiitiH,  cncoiiru^iHi  by  thin  nppttrfnt  vvciikiu'KM,  might  ninkc  an 
t)[K<n  iittiutk.  iIiiHt  l)etor(t  ruiicliirig  tl>«i  niirrowtsMt  part  of  tlu* 
(■liiiniiui,  tlid  wind  diud  nwiiy  utid  thtt  imoiior  whh  dropped. 
"JuHt  iibuvis  and  within  gun  nhot  of  thu  vohhcI,  thu  IndiuuH 
had  made  u  hruatttwork  of  htgn,  ciirufidly  (uiiic4>ale<l  by  biiHheH, 
on  tlio  Hhorc  of  Turkey  iHJand."  Jiuhind  thin  the  IndiaiiM  hiy 
ill  great  nunibem  waiting  ft)r  her  to  paHH.  The  men  on  board 
were  Hot  aware  of  thin,  but,  ex{H!(;ting  nn  attack,  they  kept  ti 
cniiHtant  lookout.  Late  in  the  night  the  Hcntinel  gave  the 
the  ahirni.  On  the  bhiek  Hurface  of  thu  water  he  naw,  advanc- 
ing, a  tleet  of  Indian  eanoen,  lilUul  with  navagoH.  'I'he  men 
In  low  were  calh-d  up,  and  every  nuin  ntood  at  Iuh  poHt.  When 
ihc  IndiaiiH  liad  a|)proaehed  within  a  few  yard»  of  the  nchooner, 
a  volley  of  eannon  and  muHkotry  burnt  forth  from  her  black 
gideH.  Grape  and  muttket  nhot  iU;w  tearing  among  the  canoed, 
desttoying  Heveral  of  them,  killing  fourteen  Indianu,  wounding 
UH  many  more,  and  driving  the  rent  in  confuriion  to  the  ^hure. 
Art  Hoon  art  those  who  nurvived  reached  the  Hhore,  they  began 
to  Hre  uj)on  the  schooner  from  behind  their  breastwork.  The 
vesHel,  thereupon,  dropped  down  the  river  l)eyond  their  reach. 
A  h'W  days  after  she  again  attempted  to  ascend  the  river. 
Tliirt  time  sliu  met  with  good  success.  There  was  a  brisk  wind, 
and,  although  the  tire  from  the  savages  was  kept  up  constantly 
from  both  shores,  she  r«'a(;hed  the  fort  in  safety. 

This  schooner  brought  the  much  needed  supplies  for  the 
garrison,  and  the  important  news  that  peace  had  \>een  con- 
cluded between  France  and  England.  The  F'ronch  settlers, 
however,  pretended  to  disbelieve  the  news,  declaring  that  it  was 
manufactured  by  Major  Gladwyn,  and  telling  tlie  Indians  that 
the  King  of  France  was  then  approaching  up  the  St.  Lawrence 
with  a.  mighty  army  to  destroy  their  enemies.  The  savages 
fully  believed  these  false  representations,  and  remained  firm  in 
their  position.  Pontiac  was  not  at  all  pleased  with  the  rein- 
forcements which  Gladwyn  had  received,  and  he  now  resolved 
to  terrify  his  British  foe  into  submission.     He  once  more  sum- 


*- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


<>..^!^ 


if'^^if 


1.0 


1.1 


11.25 


Hi  §29    |2.5 

Uj  lU    12.2 

1.4    il.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)873-4503 


4^   4^^ 


1^ 


:\ 


\ 


\ 


DO 


TIIK    LIVRH   OF    PONTIAO   AND   TKCUMIflCH: 


I  <.     ! 


moned  Gladwyn  to  surrender,  declaring  that  eight  hnndrod 
Ojibwa  warriorB  were  now  approaching  to  aBsiet  him,  and  rep. 
resenting  that,  shonld  tlie  garrison  hold  out  till  their  arrival,  no 
resistance  which  they  could  offer  would  prevent  these  braves 
from  taking  the  scalp  of  every  Englishman  witliin  the  fort. 
Gladwyn  replied  in  a  decisive  manner,  assuring  him  that  he 
cared  nothing  for  his  threats. 

Being  thus  thwarted,  Pontiac  summoned  all  the  principal 
French  settlers  to  meet  him  in  coimcil.  "In  the  Ottawa 
camp,"  says  Francis  Parkman,  "  there  was  a  vacant  spot,  fjuite 
level,  and  encircled  by  the  huts  of  the  Indians.  Here  mats 
were  spread  for  the  reception  of  the  deputies,  who  soon  con- 
vened, and  took  their  seats  in  a  wide  ring.  One  part  was 
occupied  by  the  Canadians,  among  whom  were  several,  whose 
withered,  leathery  features  proclaimed  them  the  patriarchs  of 
the  secluded  little  settlement.  Opposite  these  sat  the  stem- 
visaged  Pontiac,  with  his  chiefs  on  either  hand,  while  the 
intervening  portions  of  the  circle  were  filled  by  Canadians  and 
Indians  promiscuously  mingled.  Standing  on  the  outside,  and 
looking  over  the  heads  of  this  more  dignified  assemblage,  was 
a  motley  throng  of  Indians  and  Canadians,  half-breeds,  trap- 
pers and  voyageurs,  in  wild  and  picturesque,  though  very  dirty, 
attire.  Conspicuous  among  them  were  the  numerous  Indian 
dandies,  a  large  class  in  every  aboriginal  community,  where 
they  hold  about  the  same  relative  positions  as  in  civilized 
society.  They  were  wrapped  in  the  gayest  blankets,  their 
necks  adorned  with  beads,  their  cheeks  daubed  with  vermilion 
and  their  ears  hung  with  pendants.  They  stood  sedately  look- 
ing on,  with  evident  self-complaisancy,  yet  ashamed  and  afraid 
to  take  their  places  among  the  aged  chiefs  and  warriors  of 
repute."  Several  pipes  were  passed  round  from  hand  to  hand, 
but,  beyond  this,  all  remained  silent,  until  Pontiac  rose  and 
threw  down  a  war  belt  at  the  feet  of  the  Canadians  and  deliv- 
ered the  following  speech: 

"  My  brothers,  how  long  will  you  sufier  this  bad  f  esh  to 
remain  upon  your  lands?  I  have  told  you  before,  and  I  now 
tell  you  again,  that  when  I  took  up  the  hatchet  it  was  for  your 
good.    This  year  the  English  must  all  perish  throughout  Can- 


'  !( 


OH,   THR   fiORDKR    WAR8  OF  TWO  0ENTURIB8. 


91 


ada.  The  Master  of  Life  commands  it,  and  you  who  know 
Him  better  than  we,  wish  to  oppose  His  will.  Until  now  I 
have  said  nothing  on  this  matter.  I  have  not  urged  yon  to 
take  part  with  us  in  the  war.  It  would  have  been  enough  had 
you  been  content  to  sit  quiet  on  your  mats  looking  on,  while 
we  were  ii^hting  for  you,  but  you  have  not  done  so.  You  call 
yourselves  our  friends,  and  yet  you  assist  the  English  with 
provisions,  and  go  about  as  spies  among  our  villages.  Tliis 
must  not  continue.  You  must  be  either  wholly  French  or 
wholly  English.  If  you  are  French,  take  up  that  war  belt  and 
lift  the  hatchet  with  us;  but  if  you  are  English,  then  wo 
declare  war  upon  you.  My  brothers,  I  know  this  is  a  hard 
thing.  "We  are  all  alike  children  of  our  great  father,  the  King 
of  France,  and  it  is  hard  to  tight  among  brethren  for  the  sake 
of  dogs,  but  there  is  no  choice.  Look  upon  the  belt,  and  let  ua 
hear  your  answer." 

One  of  the  Canadians,  who  had  brought  with  him  a  copy  of 
the  capitulation  of  Montreal,  and  who  had  determined  not  to 
confess  that  they  were  no  longer  children  of  the  French  King, 
but  that  he  waslhen  approaching  with  a  vast  army  to  win  back 
Canada,  rose  and  replied  to  the  Ottawa  chief,  confessing  great 
love  for  the  Indians,  and  manifesting  a  desire  to  aid  them  in 
the  war.  He  concluded  with  these  words:  "  But,  my  brothers, 
you  must  first  untie  the  knot  with  which  our  great  father,  the 
king,  has  boimd  us.  In  this  paper — the  capitulation — he  tells 
all  his  Canadian  children  to  set  quiet  and  obey  the  English 
until  he  comes,  because  he  wishes  to  punish  his  enemies  him- 
self. We  dare  not  disobey  him,  for  he  would  then  be  angry 
with  us,  and  you,  my  brothers,  who  speak  of  making  war  upon 
us,  if  we  do  not  do  as  you  wish,  do  you  think  you  could  escape 
his  wrath?  If  yon  should  raise  the  hatchet  against  his  French 
children,  he  would  treat  you  as  enemies  and  not  as  friends,  and 
you  would  have  to  fight  both  English  and  French  at  once.  Tell 
us,  by  brothers,  what  can  you  reply  to  this?" 

The  Frenchman  then  took  his  seat,  and,  for  a  time,  PontisA 
sat  like  one  cAjnfounded,  but  he  was  not  wholly  disappointed. 
From  among  the  number  of  half-breeds  and  trappers  present, 
one  stepped  forth  and  snatched  up  the  war  belt,  and  declared 


THK  UVBB  or   VOmikO  AMD  TKCUMSKTI : 


that  he  and  his  companions  were  ready  to  raise  the  hatchet 
against  the  English.  Pontiac  was  much  pleased  with  theae 
volunteers,  and  on  the  following  day  he  made  a  great  feast  to 
welcome  them  to  the  ranks  of  his  army.  For  this  entertain- 
ment a  large  number  of  dogs  were  killed  and  served  up  to  the 
guests,  "none  of  whom,  according  to  the  Indian  custom  on 
such  occasions,  were  permitted  to  take  their  leave  until  they 
had  eaten  the  whole  of  the  enormous  portion  placed  before 
them."  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  Pontiac  derived  but 
little  beneiit  from  these  auxiliaries.  On  the  night  succeeding 
the  feast,  a  party  of  these  renegades,  together  with  about  an 
equal  number  of  Indians,  approached  the  fort  and  entrenched 
themselves,  for  the  purpose  of  firing  upon  the  garrison.  At 
daybreak  they  were  observed  by  the  garrison.  The  gates  of  the 
fort  were  therefore  thrown  open  and  a  small  detachment  of  men 
under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Hay,  marched  out  and  routed 
them.  The  Canadians  ran  off  with  such  rapidity  that  they 
escaped  injury,  while  among  the  Indians  who  made  an  attempt 
to  oppose  the  enemy,  two  were  shot. 

No  sooner  had  Lieut.  Hay  and  his  party  returned  to  the  fort, 
when  a  white  man  was  seen  running  towards  it  closely  pursued 
by  the  Indians.  When  he  had  come  within  gunshot  of  the 
fort,  the  Indians  gave  way,  and  he  reached  it  in  safety.  This 
man  proved  to  be  the  commandant  of  Sandusky,  who^as  I 
have  already  mentioned — having  been  married  to  an  old  squaw, 
had  now  made  good  his  escape.  He  brought  sad  news  to  the 
fort — the  intelligence  that  Capt.  Campbell  had  been  killed.  It 
appears  that  one  of  the  Indians  killed  by  Lieut.  Hay's  detach- 
ment, was  a  nephew  to  Wasson,  chief  of  the  Ojibwas.  As 
soon  as  he  became  aware  of  what  had  happened,  Wasson  black- 
ened his  face  in  token  of  revenge,  and,  gathering  around  him 
a  band  of  his  followers,  repaired  to  the  house  of  Meloche, 
where  Campbell  was  kept  a  prisoner,  and  murdered  him  in  the 
most  cruel  manner.  The  other  captive,  McDongal,  had  escaped 
some  time  before. 

It  was  now  about  three  months  since  the  siege  began.  From 
the  beginning,  the  Wyandots  and  Pottawatomies  were  less 
zealous  in  prosecu  Jng  the  war  than  their  brethren,  the  Otta- 


OR,  THE   BORDKR   WARS  OF  TWO  CENTDRIK8. 


98 


was  and  Ojibwas,  "  and  now,  like  children,  they  began  to  tire 
of  the  task  they  had  undertaken."  The  Wyandots  asked  for 
peace  which  the  oominandant  granted  them,  but  when  the  Pot- 
tawatomies  came  on  the  same  errand,  Gladwyn  demanded  that 
the  English  prisoners  in  their  village  should  first  be  given  np. 
After  considerable  delay  these  savages  yielded  to  his  request, 
and  a  peace  was  concluded. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Apphoacu  ok  Dalzbll'b  Dktacumknt— The  Battlu  of  Bloodt  Run  — 
8LAnaiiTBR  or  tub  Enolibii— Tub  Fatal  Ubtukat— Adventvrki 
or  TUB  ScuooNBit  Gladwtn  —  Uhavkky  or  UBR  Chkw — Tub 
Inoiams  Sub  roR  Pbacb. 


Whilk  events  were  thus  pasHing  in  Detroit  a  strong  rein- 
forcement was  advancing  to  their  assistance.  Capt.  Dalzell 
had  left  Niagara  with  twenty  barges,  bearing  two  hundred  and 
eigiity  men,  with  several  small  cannon  and  a  largo  supply  of 
ammunition  and  provisions.  This  convoy  was  observed  acK 
vancing  up  the  Detroit  river  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  July;  but 
it  no  sooner  reached  a  point  midway  between  the  villages  of  the 
Wyandots  and  Pottawatomies  than  these  Indians,  although 
bound  by  a  treaty  made  less  than  two  weeks  previous  to  abstain 
from  the  war,  opened  a  hot  lire  upon  the  boats  from  either 
bank.  It  was  answered  by  a  swivel  from  the  barges,  but  in 
the  contest  the  English  lost  about  twenty  men,  killed  and 
wounded.  When  the  villages  were  passed  the  convoy  landed 
safely  at  the  little  dock  near  the  fort.  Tlie  detachment  con- 
sisted of  soldiers  from  the  lifty-fifth  and  eightieth  regiments, 
with  twenty  independent  rangers  under  Major  Rogers. 

Captain  Dalzell  had  rendere<l  gallant  service  by  the  side  of 
Israel  Putnam,  but  had  more  recently  acted  as  aid-de-camp  to 
Sir  Jeffery  Amherst.  On  the  day  of  his  arrival  he  held  a  con- 
ference with  Major  Gladwyn,  urging  the  policy  of  going  out 
with  a  strong  detachment  and  attacking  the  camp  of  Pontiac. 
Gladwyn  objected,  but  the  officer  pressed  his  plan  so  urgently 
that  the  commandant  at  length  gave  a  reluctant  consent. 

Pontiac's  camp  at  this  time  was  located  several  miles  above 
Parent's  Creek,  it  having  been  removed  to  escape  the  fire  from 
the  vessels  in  the  river.    On  the  evening  of  the  thirtieth  of 

(94) 


OK,  TIIK   BOKDRK    WAKH  OF   TWO   <?KNTURIK8. 


95 


July  urdcr8  were  issued  and  prupurations  made  tor  the  attack  ; 
and  about  two  oV'lock  on  the  following  morning  the  detach- 
ment, two  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  passed  out  of  the  gates  of 
tlie  fort.    Through  tlie  carelessneus  of  some  of  the  garrison  the 
plan  became  known  to  tlie  French,  and  wum  by  them  commu- 
nicated to  the  Indians.     Having  thus  received  knowledge  of 
the  atfair,  the  Indians  were  on  their  guard.  The  soldiers  pass«'d 
up  the  river  road,  while  two  large  bateaux  rowed  up  the  rivur 
abreast  of  them.^    Lieut.  Brown   led  the  advance  guard   of 
twenty-live  men;  the  center  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Grey, 
and  the  rear  by  Capt.  Grant.    The  night  was  warm,  and  the 
soldiers  marched  in  light  attire.     On  their  right  lay  the  waters 
of  the  Detroit,  while  on  their  left  a  succession  of  (Janadian 
bouses,  barns  and  orchards  greeted  them  at  every  hundred 
paces.     As  the  soldiers  passed  along  the  dogs  barked  furiously 
and  the  inhabitimts,  roused  from  sleep,  looked  from  the  win- 
dows of  their  dwellings  in  astonishment.     Thus  the  English 
proceeded  to  the  attack,  little  thinking  that  behind  every  barn 
or  in  every  corn-field  Indian  warriors  lay  in  ambush,  ready  to 
slaughter  them  when  an  opportunity  was  presented;  much  less 
did  they  suppose  that  Pontiac  himself,  having  heard  of  tlieir 
intention,  was  at  that  moment  advancing  upon  them  at  the 
head  of  a  thousand  savages. 

Parent's  Creek,  since  that  night  called  Bloody  Run,  ran 
through  a  wild  hollow,  and  entered  the  Detroit  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  above  the  fort.  Only  a  few  rods  from  its  mouth  the 
road  crossed  it  by  a  narrow  wooden  bridge.  "  Just  beyond  this 
bridge  the  land  rose  in  abrupt  ridges,  parallel  to  the  stream. 
Along  their  summits  were  rude  intrenchments  made  by  Pon- 
tiac, to  protect  his  camp,  which  had  formerly  occupied  the 
ground  immediately  beyond."  In  this  place  were  huge  piles 
of  wood,  tall  picket  fences,  and  many  other  things  that  served 
as  a  shelter  to  the  Indians.  Behind  all  were  crouched  countless 
savages,  with  their  muskets  ready,  for  now  they  could  hear  the 
steady  tramp  of  the  approaching  enemy.  The  night  was 
exceedingly  dark,  and  as  the  soldiers  approached  this  dangerous 
pass  a  horrible  burst  of  yells  rose  in  their  front,  and  at  that 

*  Parkman's  "  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac." 


THK  uvw  or  HiirnAc  ani>  'rKr'UMSKu: 


ft; 


moment  thoy  were  greeted  with  a  volley  of  musketr}*.  Fnlly 
half  of  the  udvuiiue  party  toll  dead  upon  the  npot,  and  the  rent 
fell  back  in  disorder.  In  a  few  moments  the  main  body  of  the 
troops  broke  into  confusion.  But  now  the  dear,  shrill  voice 
of  Dalzell  broke  upon  the  midnight  air.  He  advanced  to  the 
front,  rallied  the  men,  and  led  them  forward  to  the  attack.  Ah 
the  troops  returned  to  battle,  another  volley  of  musketry  from 
the  Indians  poured  forth,  and  again  the  soldiers  hesitated;  but 
Dalzell  shouted  to  them,  and  with  this  brave  ofttcer  loading  the 
way,  the  detachment,  "  in  the  madness  of  mingled  rage  and 
fear,"  made  a  desperate  charge,  crossing  the  bridge  at  a  brisk 
run  and  moimting  the  heights  beyond.  Here  the  soldiers  found 
no  one  to  oppose  them.  The  savages  had  fled.  Capt.  Grant 
^ith  his  company  recrossed  the  bridge,  and  took  a  position  in 
the  road.  The  main  body  of  the  troops  followed,  a  small  party 
only  remaining,  to  hold  the  savages  in  check  while  the  dead 
and  dying  were  being  placed  on  board  the  two  bateaux,  which 
had  come  up  to  the  bridge  during  the  assault.  Before  this  task 
was  completed  the  savages  renewed  the  attack,  and  volleys  of 
musketry  were  also  heard  in  the  direction  of  Grant's  position. 
A  large  force  of  Indians  had  tired  upon  him  from  their  secret 
intrenchments.  These  had  remained  quiet  during  the  action, 
with  a  view  to  surprise  the  troops  on  their  retreat.  Grant  pushed 
forward  and  dislodged  them  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

The  English  now  received  intelligence  that  the  warriors  had 
formed  a  design  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  and  for  this  purpose 
bad  gone  in  great  numbers  to  occupy  the  French  houses  which 
commanded  the  road  below.  The  order  for  the  homeward  march 
was  immediately  given,  and  the  soldiers  fell  into  marching 
order  and  moved  forward.  Grant  now  led  the  front,  while 
Dalzell  brought  up  the  rear.  A  few  scattering  Indians  followed 
them,  discharging  their  muskets  and  harrassing  Dalzell's  com- 
mand at  every  turn.  At  intervals  the  rear  party  faced  about 
to  throw  back  a  volley  of  musketry  at  their  pursuers.  In  this 
way  they  proceeded  for  half  a  mile,  when,  reaching  a  point 
opposite  a  thicket  of  orchards  and  pickets,  the  Indians  rose 
from  their  hiding  places  and  poured  a  hot  fire  of  musketry 
among  them.     Again  the  soldiers  broke  into  confusion,  and, 


UK,    rilK    HOKDKK    WAKM  oK   TWO   (IKNTHKIKII. 


0T 


crowding  upon  ohcIi  uthor,  attenipte<l  to  Hee  for  their  livuM;  but 
thu  Htrong  voicu  ot'  DhIzuII  ngmn  roitu  above  the  din.  lie  beat 
thfl  soldierM  with  the  Hat  of  hiM  Hword  and  tliruatened  thuin  itn 
edge.  In  t)ii8  way  he  partially  retttored  order,  and  charged 
upon  the  Indians,  dislodging  thuni  and  putting  them  to  Hight. 
A  little  farther  on  the  IndiauH  had  taken  {X)t»He(iHion  of  a 
Canadian  house,  and  as  the  soldiurs  advanced  the  Havages  tired 
down  upon  them.  Major  Rodgers  advanced  witli  his  provincial 
nuigurs,  bntku  in  the  door  and  expelled  them.  Gapt.  Grey 
now  attempted  to  diHlodge  a  party  of  savages  from  behind  a 
cluster  of  buildings,  but  fell,  mortally  wounded,  in  the  attempt. 
The  savages,  however,  gave  way,  and  the  retreat  was  resumed; 
but  the  Indians  pursued  them,  shooting  down  the  rear  and 
scalping  the  fallen.  The  soldiers  hastened  on  towards  the  fort, 
the  rear  now  and  then  turning  back  to  check  their  pursuers 
with  a  discharge  of  musketry.  At  nearly  every  step  one  or 
more  fell  dead  or  wounded.  Dalzell  observed  at  a  little  dis* 
tanue,  in  the  rear,  a  sergeant  of  the  fifty -tifth  regiment  lying 
upon  the  ground,  helplessly  wounded.  The  dying  man  raised 
himself  up  upon  his  hands  and  looked  after  his  retiring  com- 
rades in  desperation.  The  sight  was  too  much  for  Dalzell.  In 
the  true  spirit  of  heroism  he  ran  out  amidst  the  brisk  fire  of 
the  Indians,  atid,  while  attempting  to  assist  the  bleeding  Her- 
gcant  to  his  feet,  a  ball  pierced  his  breast,  and  he  foil  dead  upon 
the  body  which  he  had  risked  his  own  life  to  rescue.  "^^'iHi 
this  sad  event  the  Indians  rushed  upon  them,  and  had  not  Mai  )r 
Rogers  taken  possession  of  a  ( ^anadian  house  and  covered  the 
relroat  with  the  fire  of  his  rangers,  the  loss  would  have  been 
much  more  severe.  Ri>gers  entered  this  house  with  his  own 
men,  but  was  soon  followed  by  many  of  the  regulars,  who  ran 
in  to  secure  a  temporary  shelter.  The  house,  which  was  owned 
by  Jacques  Campan,  was  filled  with  the  women  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, who  had  taken  shelter  in  the  cellar,  garret,  or  where- 
ever  a  room  promised  safety  froTn  the  fire  of  the  soldiers  and 
Indians.  The  soldiers  who  had  now  entered  the  house,  tired 
and  warm,  placed  the  furniture  against  the  windows,  and  run- 
ning their  muskets  through  the  openings,  they  opened  an 
effective  fire  upon  their  enemies;  but  this  was  sharply  returned 
7 


m 


TMK  i.ivnt  or  ii»N'HAC  ani»  tw  hmmiiim: 


by  tliv  iiHvu|i^«».  Tlio  biillutM  rnppud  Imnl  Hnd  tHKt  ii^iiiiiMt  tin 
outer  walU,  hikI  now  uiid  thun  one  would  tly  tluirply  wliixziii;: 
tlirou^h  Aunivitw,  utrilcing  down  a  man  or  UarmluMljr  pioruiiiy 
the  parti tiontt. 

In  the  nioantinie  ('apt.  (Inuit  had  niovo<i  tbrwiird  and  takttn 
up  u  |)OHition  uinonf<  thi*  orchard  treoM  wlu^rt^  ho  tnaintaim>d 
hiniKeU'  until  thu  (t>ntru  and  ruar  arrived.  Kn»ni  thi*  point 
he  detached  all  the  men  he  could  spare  tii  occupy  the  Holdirnt 
below.  In  thin  way  he  eBtahliidioti  a  ctMiiplete  line  of  com- 
mnnication  with  the  tort,  and  the  retreat  wait  effeotuallv 
secured.  In  leMs  than  an  hour  the  whole  party,  except  Rogtn« 
and  liit)  men,  had  arrived  to  Grant's  new  poHition.  The  prt. 
vincialH  were  unable  to  leave  the  Iiouhc  of  (/ampau,  being  com 
pletely  HurrcMinded  by  thu  Huva^'H.  The  two  armed  bateaux, 
wtiich  had  now  arrived  at  the  fort,  with  the  dead  who  fell  itt 
the  char^t  of  Blor.dy  liun,  were  ordered  to  proceed  up  the 
river  U)  a  point  opponitu  the  houoe  in  which  Rogers  wAh 
being  bexieged,  an<l  open  fire  upon  the  savagCH.  Tliis  whk 
done  with  good  eHuct,  enabling  liogerrt  and  hiit  men  to  leuvt- 
the  houHe  and  cotitinue  their  retreat.  The  bateaux  followtxl 
them  down  the  river,  protecting  their  roar  from  the  fire  of  the 
IndiaiiH.  Uogers  had  no  H(X)ner  left  the  house  at  one  dour 
than  the  Indians  entered  it  at  another,  for  the  purpoBc  of 
scalping  the  corpses  of  the  dead  soldierit.  Foremost  among 
these  was  an  old  squaw,  who  rushed  in,  with  a  wild  scream, 
and  slashing  open  one  of  the  dead  bodies  with  her  knife, 
scooped  up  the  blood  with  her  joined  hands  and  drank  it 
down  greedily. 

About  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  detachment  readied 
the  fort  and  entered  once  more  within  the  palisades,  but  not 
without  losing  tifty-niiie  tnen  killed  and  wounded.  Tlie  lose 
of  the  Indians  did  not  exceed  twenty. 

Pontiac  was  much  gratified  with  his  success  in  routing  the 
English,  and  messengers  were  sent  out  for  hundreds  of  miles 
around  to  announce  their  victory.  Reinforcements  soon  began 
to  come  in,  and  in  a  few  days  Pontiac's  forces  were  nearly 
doubled.  The  English,  however,  were  now  well  prepared  to 
meet  any  force  which  the  Indians  might  be  able  to  muster. 


nR,   Till    BOlinKN    WAIW  OV   TWO   (iKN-rHllKt. 


»9 


•  :f 


Th«  ijptrriMon  coiiM  now  bouiit  of  thrtMt  liiindrud  ofToctive  men, 
and  lM)inf(  wull  pruviiiud  with  pn>?iiiioriM  und  Hrninunition,  ihej 
tuu)(ht  with  ho|)e  aiul  oourtKo.  Day  «tlur  dny  pMitod  on. 
The  btMui^rM  continuod  the  war,  hut  nothiiif^  ocoiirrud  of 
great  itii|H)rtnnco  uutil  the  fourth  of  HupttiiiilHtr.  On  thii  day 
the  Huhuoiit'r  (iladwyn,  tho  ttinaller  of  the  two  vumhoIm  already 
mentioned,  whiuh  had  been  nent  to  Niagara  with  diipatolios, 
watt  returning  up  the  Detroit  river,  having  on  board*  Capt. 
UurHt,  ilaeohi),  the  mate,  and  a  crew  of  ten  men  and  six 
IriHjuuiii  Indians,  believed  to  be  friendly  to  tlie  English.  As 
icon  aH  the  schooner  entered  the  river  the  Indians  desired  to 
be  placed  on  shore.  This  was  granted  them,  and  it  it 
believed  they  proccede<l  at  once  to  report  the  approach  of  the 
schooner  and  the  weakness  of  the  crew  to  Pontiac.  On  the 
evening  of  the  fourth  she  was  becalmed  in  the  river,  about 
nine  miles  below  the  fort.  "The  men  on  board,"  says  Park> 
man,  ''watched  with  anxious  vigilance,  and  as  night  came  on 
they  lintened  to  every  sound  which  broke  the  Htillncss,  from 
the  fltrange  cry  of  the  night-hawk,  wheeling  round  and  round 
sl>ove  their  hendH,  to  the  bark  of  the  fox  in  the  woodn  on 
shore.  The  night  set  in  with  darkness  so  complete  that  at  the 
dJHtance  of  a  few  rods  nothing  could  be  discerned.  Mean- 
while* three  hundrtHl  and  fifty  Indians,  in  their  birch  canoes, 
^liiUnl  silently  down  with  the  current  and  were  close  upon  the 
vcHHul  before  they  were  seen.  Tliere  was  only  time  to  fire  a 
single  canon  shot  among  tliem  before  they  were  beneath  her 
bowH  and  clambering  up  her  sides,  holding  their  knives 
clenched  fast  between  their  teeth.  Tlie  crew  gave  them  a  close 
iire  of  musketry  without  any  efioct.  llien  flinging  down  their 
guns,  they  seized  tlieir  spears  and  hatchets,  with  which  they 
were  all  provided,  and  met  the  assailants  with  such  furious 
energy  and  courage,  that  within  the  space  of  two  or  three 
minutes  they  had  killed  and  wounded  more  than  thrice  their 
own  number.  But  the  Indians  were  only  checked  for  a 
moment.  The  m  ter  of  the  vessel  was  killed,  several  of  the 
crew  were  disabled,  and  the  assailants  were  leaping  over  the 
bulwarks,  when  Jacobs,  the  mate,  called  out  to  blow  up  the 
schooner.    This  desperate  command  saved  her  and  her  crew. 


100 


till    I.IVI4I  OV    HiiNTUf?    AND  TtWUMMKIi: 


Somo  Wjnnriotw  whu  liiul  |{aiiiiNl  thit  ilook,  (•nii^lit  tho  tn«Aning 
of  hJM  w«mU  mikI  fptvu  tho  «Urtn  toth»!r  c«>ni|»uiiionii.  IiiMtHiitlj 
every  Indinii  linkfMKl  ovurlKiani  in  •  ftttnic  aikI  the  whole  were 
Men  divinf(  »nU  iwimining  otf  in  nII  direetionii  to  «Nca|)e  th« 
threiitene<i  exploaion.  T)ie  Rohootier  whm  clennNi  of  her  mmIU 
•nt«,  who  did  not  dnre  to  rtniew  the  attitok,  Hnd  on  the  follow, 
ing  morning  the  ii»ilo<l  for  the  fort,  whioh  nlie  reuehed  without 
moloNttttion.  Hixof  her  cmw  eMciiped  unhurt.  Of  the  remain- 
der, two  were  IcilltNl  nnd  four  ierioualy  wounded,  while  th« 
Indianii  had  Hovon  men  killed  upon  tho  gpot  nnd  nearly  twenty 
wounded,  of  whom  eight  were  known  to  have  died  within  a 
few  dnyH  after.  A«  tho  whole  action  laMted  hut  a  few  minutei, 
tlie  rtercenuMH  of  the  Htruggle  in  nutHdently  apparent  from  tli« 
loM  on  l)oth  Hideit.  The  HurvivorH  of  the  little  crow  were  atW* 
wanls  rewanhnl  hm  their  undaunted  bravery  deserved."  Thii 
ichooner  brought  to  the  fort  a  much  needed  nupply  of  pro* 
viRiona,  for  by  thin  time  their  Hupplios  had  become  Hhort.  Ft 
was  not,  it  will  be  Keen,  how««ver,  HufHciont  for  the  wants  of  the 
garrison,  and  the  whole  were  now  put  U|)on  the  Bhortest  poMi- 
ble  allowance. 

September  waa  now  drawing  to  a  close.  The  savages  having 
prcBHod  the  siege  fiim«  the  Itoginningof  May,  wert»  now  becom- 
ing tired  of  their  ill-success,  and  hearing  that  Major  Wilkinii 
was  now  approaching  with  a  large  army  to  destroy  them,  us  well 
as  becoming  shaken  in  their  faith  regarding  the  advancing 
army  of  the  king  of  France,  they  sued  for  ))ence. 

Tho  different  triljos  around  Detroit  who  now,  weary  of  the 
siege,  came  to  the  fort  for  jwiace,  were  by  no  means  sincere  in 
tlieir  desires.  Fearing  the  advance  of  the  English  from  Niag- 
ara, and  knowing  that  with  the  approach  of  winter  their 
sniferings  would  be  increased,  and,  their  ammunition  being 
nearly  spent,  they  had  resolved  to  conclude  a  peace,  retire  to 
their  wintering  grounds,  and  renew  the  war  with  increased 
vigor  in  the  spring.  Accordingly,  on  the  twelfth  of  October, 
Wapocomoguth,  great  chief  of  the  Mississaugas,  a  branch  of 
the  Ojibwas,  living  east  of  the  Detroit  Eiver,  visited  the  fort, 
bringing  with  him  a  pipe  of  peace.  He  declared  to  Gladwyn 
that  he  and  his  people  were  fast  friends  of  the  English,  and 


OK,    rilK    NiiKliKM    WAN*!    or    TWO   t  KNTI'KIKN. 


101 


now  tluMiitNl  to  coiicliidt*  a  lMtiiif(  piu'o  with  tlioin.  Ho  t\ir- 
thiT  imI(Ii<(1  tliiit  li«>  \m\  Ih'imi  r(M|Uuiit(Hl  hjr  tht>  I'ottMWKttiniiuii, 
OjibwiiM  ttiul  WyuiiilotM,  to  Muy  thnt  thtwu  trilHM  worn  now  Horrj 
(or  t»kiiiK  ixtft  i»  t^>*'  ^i*'*;  thnt  tlitiy  r'>|H«nt<>(l  of  tlioir  Imd 
(ttruluct,  aiul  hIiui  Minccritly  dcMinMl  to  coiivlutiu  a  trviity  of 
iM-ncu,  which  thuy  hud  roMolvrd  on,  it'  iimdu  not  to  hruttlc.  Tlio 
jtritith  uontnmndiint  whm  now  ttni  wtdl  iu!i|uuint<<d  with  the 
Indian  (diarnutur,  and  nioro  i)M|Mtcially  with  tliu  triclcM  o(  thoio 
trilN)«,  to  holiuvu  tliuMu  n^prcMontationM;  but,  tlio  fliruuinntanoot 
ill  whicit  lie  wai  placttd  niado  it  nvitwary  tor  him  to  adopt  any 
riicHituro  that  would  cnahlo  him  to  |»r(N'ur(>  t'urtlicr  Mupplica. 
Iliit  garriMon  wim  on  thu  uvu  of  famine,  and  evory  attempt  to 
i«i>(!urH  proviHionti  whiltt  hin  fort  wait  MurroundHl  with  hoHtilo 
Indianti,  hud  httun  Htti>nilfd  with  uvil  rvHuItH.  He  ropliu<l, 
tlierufore,  that  ho  v/m  not  oinpoworod  to  f^rant  poaco,  hut  ho 
would  cotiMont  to  a  truco.  Thu  (Jjihwa  chief  \vi\  tho  fort  with 
tliJH  mcHHu^,  and  Gladwyn,  favored  with  a  lull  in  tho  Htorm, 
hiiHtened  to  collect  proviHionn  among  tho  French  ttottlers.  lie 
ttiet  with  many  ditticulticH,  m  the  CaiuulianH  were  fearful  loMt, 
hIkuiUI  they  bo  inntrumontal  in  supplying  the  garriHon  with 
food,  they  would  incur  the  wrath  of  the  Huvages,  and,  perliapH, 
|)eritfh  under  the  tomahawk.  But  he  '^u.-.coeded  in  collecting  a 
a  very  good  supply,  ButHcient  to  ^*i»  i-  (uu  ^arriiHH)  through  the 
winter. 

It  should  1)6  rememb«»rwl,  \\^\i.,  li  u!  the  OttuwuH  hud  not  yet 
MHked  for  pence,  (loaded  on  by  their  great  leader,  Pontiac, 
they  would  not  humble  themeelveH  ub  their  brethren  had  done, 
but,  continuing  their  hoetile  uctH,  they  harrauHcd  the  fort  con- 
tinually. With  the  end  of  October,  however,  Pontine  received 
H  Hovore  blow  to  IiIa  eiiergioH.  A  French  meBnenger  came  to 
hit)  camp  with  a  letter  from  M.  Neyon,  commandant  at  Fort 
Chnrtere,  the  principal  poKt  in  Illiuois.  Tho  letter  assured 
Pontiac  that  all  the  stories  which  had  been  told  him  regarding 
the  approach  of  his  French  fnthor,  with  a  great  army,  were 
false;  that  the  French  an<l  the  English  were  now  at  peace  and 
regarded  each  other  as  brothers,  and  that  they  had  better  aban- 
don the  siege.  This  letter  broke  the  pride  of  the  Ottawa 
leader,  and  he  departed  from  Detroit,  accompanied  by  hie  prin- 


loa 


THR   MVICH  OF   TONTIAO   AND  TKOUMMCn  t 


cipal  chiefs.  Deucendiiig  the  Detroit,  he  encamped  on  the 
Manmee,  when  he  began  to  stir  up  the  tribes  in  that  place, 
with  a  view  of  renewing  the  war  in  the  spring. 

A  few  day's  after  Pontiac's  departure,  two  friendly  Wyan- 
dot Indians  came  to  the  fort.  One  of  them  handed  Major 
Gladwyn  a  letter.  It  proved  to  be  from  Major  Wilkins,  and 
contained  the  disastrous  news  that  his  detachment  had  been 
overtaken  by  a  storm ;  that  many  of  the  boats  had  been  wrecked, 
and  that  seventy  men  had  perished;  that  all  the  stores  and 
ammunition  had  been  destroyed,  and  he,  and  the  remnant 
of  his  men  had  been  forced  to  return  to  Niagara.  Tliis  news 
had  a  bad  effect  upon  the  cheer  of  the  garrison,  but,  delighted 
at  the  departure  of  Pontiac,  and  with  the  temporary  peace  which 
they  were  enjoying,  they  took  courage,  and  looked  forward  to 
the  dreary  winter,  with  hopeful  hearts. 

Detroit,  and  the  territory  for  miles  around  was  now  almost 
deserted.  The  besiegers  had  departed  for  the  chase.  Some 
crossed  Lake  Huron  to  the  north,  others  advanced  far  west- 
ward into  tlie  wilds  of  Michigan,  while,  as  already  observed, 
a  large  number  went  southward  to  the  Maumee. 

Detroit,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  the  central  point  of 
Indian  operations.  Around  it  they  had  concentrated  their 
greatest  forces.  Its  capture  had  been  their  favorite  project. 
It  was  the  only  barrier  which  prevented  them  from  carrying 
out  the  original  plan  of  uniting  in  one  mighty  onslaught 
against  the  frontier  settlements.  With  the  failure  of  tjiis 
part  of  the  work,  the  savages  become  discouraged,  and,  for  the 
time  being,  they  retired  from  the  siege. 


CHAPTER   XIII 


PrONTIBB     SETTIiEMENTS     AND    F0KT8  —  Al.AKMS     AT     FOUT     PiTT  — 
81.AOQHTEB     OF    TUADKUS  —  NaRIIOW     EsCAI-K     OF     A     GAHniSON  — 

DE8TIIUCTION   OF   Foutb  —  Thb   Wah    Uaoing    to   the    Hiohebt 
Pitch— Danokb  Thickening  Around  Fout  Pitt. 

While  the  clouds  of  Indians  were  blackening  aroiiHcl  Detroit, 
a  tempest  was  gathering  which  was  soon  to  pour  a  iorrent  upon 
the  whole  frontier.  In  1763  the  British  settlements  did  not 
extend  beyond  the  Alleghanies.  The  German  Flats  on  the 
Mohawk  might  have  been  regarded  as  the  extreme  verge  of  the 
frontier  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  same  could  have 
been  said  of  the  town  of  Bedford,  in  Pennsylvania,  while  the 
settlements  of  Virginia  extended  to  a  corresponding  distance. 
Through  the  wilderness  immediately  west  of  these  places,  ran 
chains  of  forts,  for  their  protection.  One  of  the  most  import- 
ant of  these  passed  through  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations, 
and  guarded  the  route  between  the  northern  colonies  and  Lake 
Ontario.  The  route  was  by  the  way  of  the  Hudson,  the 
Mohawk,  Wood  Creek,  the  Oneida  Lake  and  the  River  Oswego, 
and  was  defended  by  Forts  Stanwix,  Brewertown,  Oswego  and 
two  or  three  smaller  forts.  Fort  Niagara  stood  near  the  west- 
ern end  of  Lake  Ontario,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  from  which 
it  derived  its  name.  This  was  a  strong  and  M'ell  supplied  fort, 
guarding,  as  it  did,  access  to  the  whole  interior  country,  both 
by  way  of  the  route  just  mentioned,  also  by  that  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.  From  Fort  Niagara  the  trader  would  make  the 
portage  past  the  great  falls  to  Presque  Isle,  now  the  city  of 
Erie,  Pennsylvania.  Thence  he  would  pass,  by  an  overland 
route,  to  Fort  Le  Boeuf,  on  a  branch  of  the  Alleghany;  thence 
by  water  to  Yenango,  and  thence  down  the  Alleghany  to  Fort 
Pitt.    This  last-mentioned  place  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 

(103) 


104 


THK    LIVES   OK    IHiNTIA*!    ANU   IUOUMHKH: 


proHperous  city  of  Pittsburgh.  Before  the  forests  had  been 
leveled  to  the  earth,  at  the  period  of  which  1  am  writing,  this 
was  a  beautiful  spot.  Everywhere  for  miles  around,  the  land- 
scape was  rich  and  (^ptivating.  On  the  right  the  waters  of 
the  Alleghany,  bordered  by  high,  steep  banks,  Howed  onward 
towards  the  Mississippi.  On  the  left,  the  winding  Mononga- 
hela  came  in  and  emptied  its  gurgling  waters  into  the  former, 
or  both  united  to  form  the  broad  Ohio.  For  a  long  distance 
down  this  placid  stream,  on  either  side,  the  picturesque  hilU 
and  declivities  presented  a  scene  of  rare  beauty.  The  place, 
too,  had  its  historic  associations.  It  was  on  this  spot  where 
the  French  had  erected  Fort  Duquesne.  Near  by  the  same 
place,  Braddock  had  been  defeated,  and  on  the  hill,  in  the  rear 
of  the  fort,  Grant's  Highlanders  and  Lewis'  Virginians  had 
been  surrounded  and  captured  after  a  long  and  desperate 
resistance.  , 

General  Stanwix  erected  Fort  Pitt  in  1759,  upon  the  ruins 
of  Fort  Duquesne,  which  General  Forbes  bad  destroyed.  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  the  walls  of  this  strong  fort  have  long 
since  been  leveled  to  the  ground,  and  that  on  its  site  has  arisen 
the  populous  city  of  Pittsburgh.  But  in  1763,  Fort  Pitt  stood 
alone  in  the  dense  forest,  being  over  two  hundred  miles  from 
the  frontier  settlements  of  Pennsylvania.  Tliere  were  two 
routes  leading  from  this  post  to  the  settlements,  one  of  which 
had  been  cut  out  by  General  Braddock,  in  his  disastrous  march 
in  1755 ;  the  other,  and,  perhaps,  the  one  most  frequented,  was 
by  the  way  of  Carlisle  and  Bedford,  and  was  first  traversed  by 
General  Forbes  in  1758.  Leaving  Fort  Pitt  by  the  Forbes 
route,  the  traveler,  after  journeying  fifty-six  miles,  would  reach 
the  post  of  Ligonier,  whence  he  would  soon  reach  Fort  Bed- 
ford. This  post  was  about  one  hundred  miles  from  Fort 
Pitt.  It  was  nestled  among  the  mountains,  and  surrounded 
by  several  log  cabins,  the  huts  of  the  first  pioneers.  Contin- 
uing on  and  passing  several  small  posts,  the  traveler  would 
come  to  Carlisle,  which  was  nearly  one  hundred  miles  further 
east,  a  place  resembling  Fort  Bedford  in  its  surroundings. 
From  Carlisle,  the  traveler  would  proceed  to  Harris'  Ferry ^ 


OK,   TIIK   BORDKK   WAB8   OF  TWO  dtMTUKlUS. 


lOfr 


liuw  Harrisburg,  on  the  Suaquehunna.     From  the  latter  place 
the  route  led  directly  into  the  settlements. 

It  would  be  a  diffloult  matter  to  give  any  correct  description 
of  the  border  settlements  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  at  this 
early  day,  or  even  the  scattered  forts  that  were  intended  to 
protect  them,  nor,  indeed,  would  the  reader  bo  deeply  inter- 
ested in  it,  could  an  accurate  one  be  produced.  There  was 
nothing  in  their  character  widely  different  from  any  other 
border  towns. 

The  inhabitants  of  these  places  had  for  some  time  enjoyed 
peace  with  the  neighboring  tribes,  but  in  May,  1763,  news  of 
the  Pontiac  war  reached  them,  and  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening 
of  the  twenty-seventh  of  the  same  month,  a  party  of  Indians 
were  seen  from  Fort  Pitt,  descending  the  banks  of  the  Alle- 
ghany, with  pack  horses.  They  encamped  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  till  daybreak  on  the  twenty-eighth,  when  they  all  crossed 
over  to  the  fort.  They  brought  with  them  a  great  quantity  of 
valuable  furs.  These  were  exchanged  for  hatchets,  muskets, 
bullets  and  gunpowder.  Their  peculiar  conduct  excited  sus- 
picion, but  they  were  permitted  to  depart.  Not  long  after  they 
had  gone,  news  was  received  at  the  fort  that  Col.  Olapham, 
with  several  others,  had  been  murdered  and  scalped  near  the 
fort.  Soon  after  it  was  discovered  that  all  the  inhabitants  of 
an  Indian  village,  not  far  up  the  river,  had  abandoned  their 
cabins.  Following  this  came  the  intelligence  that  two  soldiers 
belonging  to  the  garrison  had  been  shot  down  near  the  fort.  A 
messenger  was  sent  out  to  Venango  to  warn  the  garrison  there  of 
danger,  but  he  had  not  gone  far  when  he  was  twice  fired  at  and 
severely  wounded.  He  returned  almost  immediately  and 
reported  the  situation.  The  clouds  now  began  to  thicken 
around  Fort  Pitt,  as  we  have  seen  them  around  Detroit.  A 
trader  named  Calhoun,  came  in  from  the  Tuscarora  village 
with  the  following  account:  "  At  eleven  o'clock  on  the  night 
of  the  twenty-seventh,  a  chief  and  several  of  the  principal 
warriors  of  the  Tuscarora  village,  had  come  to  Calhoun's  house, 
and  earnestly  begged  him  to  depart,  declaring  that  they  did 
not  wish  to  see  him  killed  before  their  eyes.  The  Ottawas  and 
Ojibwas,  they  said,  had  taken  up  the  hatchet,  and  captured 


106 


TRK   LIW8  OF   FUMTIAC    AND  TKOUMMRH: 


t 


Detroit,  Sandusky  and  all  the  tbrtis  of  the  interior.  The  Del. 
awares  and  ShawanouB  of  the  Ohio  were  following  their  example, 
and  were  murdering  all  the  traders  among  them.  Galhouu 
and  the  thirteen  men  in  his  employ  lost  no  time  in  taking 
their  departure.  The  Indians  forced  them  to  leave  their  guns 
behind,  promising  that  they  would  give  them  "  three  warriors 
to  guide  them  in  safety  to  Fort  Pitt;  but  the  whole  proved  a 
piece  of  characteristic  dissimulation  and  treachery.  The  three 
guides  led  them  into  an  ambuscade  at  the  mouth  of  Beaver 
Creek.  A  volley  of  balls  showered  among  them ;  eleven  men 
were  killed  on  the  spot,  and  Calhoun  and  two  others  alone 
made  their  escape."  The  reports  which  Calhoun  had  received 
concerning  the  slaughter  of  English  traders,  was  only  too  true. 
Tliey  were  scalped  everywhere  without  mercy.  A  boy  named 
McCullough,  who  had  been  captured  during  the  French  War, 
and  who  was  now  a  prisoner  among  the  Indians,  relates  i 
in  his  published  narrative,  that  he  witnessed  the  killing 
of  a  trader  named  Green,  which  was  conducted  in  the  most 
cruel  manner.  Everywhere  throughout  the  vast  wilder- 
ness,  wherever  an  English  trader  had  ventured,  he  was  scalped, 
and,  in  many  instances,  no  white  man  survived  to  tell  the  hor- 
rible news.  I^ot  less  than  a  hundred  were  thus  murdered  and 
scalped,  along  this  frontier.  Their  goods  were  all  plundered, 
and  the  savages  exulted  in  their  bloody  work.  Among  the 
villages  of  the  Hurons  and  Wyandots,  the  traders  were  so 
numerous  that  that  the  Indians  were  afraid  to  attack  them 
openly.  They,  therefore,  adopted  the  following  ingenious 
plan :  "  They  told  their  unsuspecting  victims  that  the  sur- 
rounding tribes  had  risen  in  arms,  and  were  soon  coming  that 
way,  bent  on  killing  every  Englishman  they  could  find.  The 
Wyandots  averred  that  they  would  gladly  protect  their  friends, 
the  white  men,  but  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  do  so,  unless 
the  latter  would  consent,  for  the  sake  of  appearances,  to  bee<jme 
their  prisoners.  In  this  case,  they  said  the  hostile  Indians 
would  refrain  from  injuring  them,  and  they  should  be  set  at 
liberty  as  soon  as  the  danger  was  passed.  The  traders  fell  into 
the  snare.  They  gave  up  their  arms,  and,  the  better  to  carry 
ont  the  deception,  even  consented  to  be  bound."    No  sooner 


OK,   THB    BORDKR    WAK8   OP   TWO    OKNTUUIiM. 


lOT 


bad  these  crafty  Indians  thus  secured  the  Englishmen,  than 
they  fell  to  and  murdered  them  in  cold  blood.  This  was  one 
of  the  most  cruel  massacres  in  the  whole  catalogue. 

Among  the  horrifying  incidents  that  were  now  desolating 
the  border  forests  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia, 
there  were,  now  and  then,  scenes  which  were  not  altogether 
void  of  romance.  An  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Chapman, 
who  lived  near  Detroit,  was  made  prisoner.  For  some  time  he 
was  protected  by  the  humane  interference  of  a  Frenchman. 
At  length,  however,  his  captors  resolved  to  burn  him  alive. 
For  this  purpose  they  tied  him  to  a  stake,  placed  fuel  around 
him,  and  started  the  fire.  When  the  fiames  became  unbearable, 
they  gavo  him  a  bowl  of  broth  scalding  hot.  He  snatched  it, 
and,  in  the  rage  of  thirst,  raised  it  to  his  lips  and  began  to 
drink.  Bursting  into  a  rage,  he  flung  the  bowl  into  the  face 
of  the  Indian.  In  a  moment  the  crowd  shouted,  "  He  is  mad! 
He  is  mad!"  and  in  another  they  unbound  him,  and  set  him  at 
liberty.  Such  was  the  superstitious  respect  which  the  Indians 
entertained  for  every  form  of  insanity. 

While  the  war  clouds  were  thus  hovering  over  Fort  Pitt, 
the  war  cry  burst  forth  at  Fort  Ligonier.  This  came  in  the 
form  of  a  volley  of  musketry,  killing  a  number  of  the  horses 
belonging  to  the  fort.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Bedford, 
several  men  had  been  murdered,  and  many  more  had  narrowly 
escaped.  At  this  place  the  inhabitants  were  mustered  together 
and  organized  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  garrison.  A 
number  of  woodsmen  formed  into  a  company,  dressed  and 
painted  like  savages;  they  decoyed  several  bands  of  warriors 
within  rifle  shot  of  them,  and  soon  became  the  terror  of  every 
Indian  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  commandant  at  Fort  Pitt  had  made  every  preparation 
to  receive  the  enemy.  All  the  buildings  in  the  vicinity  were 
leveled  to  the  ground,  nothing  being  left  to  serve  as  a  shelter 
for  the  Indians.  The  garrison,  which  was  commanded  by  Oapt. 
Ecuyer,  consisted  of  three  hundred  and  thirty  soldiers,  traders 
and  backwoodsmen.  There  were  also  in  the  fort  about  one 
hundred  women  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  children. 

The  outrages  which  were  every  day  being  committed  aroond 


I 


'H 


108 


TIIR    I.IVKM   OP    l>C)N'riAO    AND   TKOUMBKii: 


,;;i,'* 


these  forts  were  fur  the  must  part  the  work  of  the  ^^  young  men," 
Hg  they  are  called  among  the  Indians.  It  would  seem  that 
there  was  no  chief  among  them  of  sufficient  power  to  check 
their  reckless  conrse.  Had  Pontiac  been  among  them  these 
petty  hostilities  would  have  been  concentrated  into  a  well, 
directed  general  attack.  But  now,  as  it  was,  it  was  highly 
dangerous  for  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Pitt  to  ven- 
ture outside  of  the  gate,  and  the  few  who  attempted  it  were 
murdered  and  scalped  by  these  savages.  The  surrounding 
woods  were  now  alive  with  prowling  warriors,  and  their  number 
was  daily  increasing. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  Juno  a  party  of  warriors  appeared 
upon  the  plain,  at  some  distance  behind  the  fort.  They  drove 
off  the  horses  which  were  grazing  there,  and  killed  a  number 
of  cattle.  This  done,  they  opened  a  brisk  Are  upon  the  fort, 
from  which  two  men  were  killed.  The  garrison  replied  by  a 
discharge  of  howitzers,  from  which  the  Indians  fled  in  confu- 
sion.  They  soon  appeared  at  another  quarter,  and  re-opened 
their  fire,  which  they  kept  up  steadily  throughout  the  following 
night. 

About  nine  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  several  Indians 
approached  the  fort  and  took  up  a  position  close  to  the  intrench, 
ment,  when  one  of  them,  a  Delaware,  called  Turtle's  Heart, 
addressed  the  garrison  as  follows  : 

"  My  brothers, — we  that  stand  here  are  your  friends;  but  we 
have  bad  news  to  tell  you.  Six  great  nations  of  Indians  have 
taken  up  the  hatchet  and  cut  off  all  the  English  garrisons 
excepting  yours.  They  are  now  on  their  way  to  destroy  you 
also.  My  brothers,  we  are  your  friends,  and  we  wish  to  save 
your  lives.  What  we  desire  you  to  do  is  this  :  you  m'lst  leave 
this  fort,  with  all  your  women  and  children,  and  go  down  to 
the  English  settlements,  where  you  will  be  safe.  Ther^  are 
many  bad  Indians  already  here,  but  we  will  protect  you  from 
them.  You  must  go  at  once,  because  if  you  wait  till  the  six 
great  nations  arrive  here  you  will  all  be  killed,  and  we  can  do 
nothing  to  protect  you." 

The  commandant,  fully  understanding  their  design,  made 
the  following  curious  reply  :    "My  brothers,  we  are  very  grate- 


OR,   THK    BORDER   WARS  OF  TWO  ORNTURim. 


109 


.\ 


fnl  for  your  IcindnettH,  though  we  are  convinced  that  you  must 
be  iniHtakon  in  what  you  have  told  us  about  the  forts  being 
captured.  As  for  ourselves  we  have  plenty  of  provisions,  and 
are  nble  to  keep  this  fort  against  all  the  nations  of  Indians  that 
may  dare  to  attack  it.  We  are  very  well  olf  in  this  place,  and 
we  mean  to  stay  here.  My  brothers,  as  yon  have  shown  your- 
selves such  true  friends,  we  feel  bound  in  gratitude  to  inform 
you  that  an  anny  of  six  thousand  English  will  shortly  arrive 
here,  and  that  another  army  of  three  thousand  is  gone  up  the 
lakes  to  punish  the  Ottawas  and  the  Ojibwas.  A  third  is  gone 
to  the  frontier  of  Virginia,  where  they  will  be  joined  by  your 
enemies,  the  Cherokeos  and  Gatawbas,  who  are  coming  here  to 
destroy  you ;  therefore,  take  pity  on  your  women  and  children 
and  get  out  of  the  way  as  soon  as  possible.  We  have  told  you 
this  in  confidence,  out  of  our  great  solicitude,  lest  any  of  you 
should  be  hurt,  and  we  hope  that  you  will  not  tell  the  other 
Indians,  lest  they  should  escape  from  our  vengeance." 

The  story  of  the  three  armies,  which  Capt.  Ecuyer  invented, 
had  a  very  good  effect  upon  the  Indians.  They  returned  with 
this  story  to  a  large  band  of  warriors  wfco  were  advancing 
agaiTist  the  fort,  and  were  the  means  of  their  abandoning  their 
purpose.  On  the  twenty-sixth  a  soldier  named  Grey  came  in 
with  the  sad  story  of  the  fall  of  Presque  Isle.  On  his  way  to 
the  fort  he  passed  the  ruins  of  Le  Boeuf  and  Venango.  During 
the  same  day  Ensign  Price,  the  oflScer  commanding  at  Le  Boeuf, 
was  seen  approaching,  followed  by  seven  of  his  half-starved 
soldiers.  He  reached  the  fort  in  safety  and  reported  his  loss. 
On  the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  a  great  multitude  of  Indians 
had  surrounded  his  post.  His  only  available  defense  consisted 
of  one  blockhouse.  Showering  bullets  and  fire-arrows  against  it, 
they  soon  set  it  in  flames  ;  and  at  midnight,  in  spite  of  every 
effort,  the  upper  part  of  the  building  burst  into  sheets  of  flame. 
The  Indians  now  gathered  in  a  serai-circle  before  the  entrance, 
prepared  to  scalp  the  unfortunate  garrison  as  fast  as  they  should 
be  driven  out  by  the  flames.  But  the  commandant  and  his 
men  with  great  efibrt  hewed  an  opening  through  the  back  wall 
of  the  blockhouse,  and  escaped  into  the  woods.  For  some  time 
they  could   hoar  the  reports  of  the  Indian  guns,  "as  these 


no 


TiiK  i.ivw  or  K)i«rnAo  anh  TKri'MHKii: 


pnintod  domonft  wen^  tttill  leaping  and  ytOlin^  in  front  of  tlie 
blazing  Wnildinjur,  tiring  into  tho  loopholtM,  and  exulting  in  the 
thought  that  their  eneniiet)  were  sutfuring  in  thu  agonies  of 
death  within."  The  trembling  garrirton  preHiied  onward 
through  the  whole  of  the  night  and  the  following  day,  and  at 
one  o'clock  on  tho  succeeding  night  they  came  to  the  spot  where 
Fort  Venango  had  Htood.  All  that  now  remained  were  hu^ 
pilert  of  Huiouldering  embers,  among  which  were  the  charred 
bodien  of  the  unfortunate  garrison.  They  continued  their 
journey;  but  six  of  the  party,  exhausted  fmm  hunger,  gave 
way.  and  were  left  behind.  The  rest  barely  reached  Fort  Pitt 
alive.  No  man  lived  to  tell  the  fate  of  the  garrison  of  Ven- 
ango,  but  some  time  after  the  destruction  of  that  fort  an  Indian 
who  was  present  at  the  atiair  related  tho  circumstances  to  Sir 
William  Johnson.  The  story  was  short,  but  full  of  horror. 
''  A.  large  body  of  Sonecas  gained  an  entrance  under  pretence 
of  friendship,  then  closed  the  gates,  fell  upon  the  garrison  and 
butchered  them  all  except  the  commanding  ofHcer,  Lieut.  Gor- 
don, whom  they  tortured  over  a  slow  lire  for  several  successive 
nights,  till  he  expired.  This  done,  they  burnt  the  ])lace  to  the 
ground  and  departed." 

While  Forts  Le  Boeuf  and  Venango  were  thus  dispatched, 
Fort  Ligonier  was  furiously  assailed,  but  atler  a  day's  hard 
lighting  drove  the  savages  away.  Fort  Augusta,  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna, was  also  besieged,  but  having  received  large  rein- 
forcements on  the  day  previous  were  able  to  hold  out.  Forts 
Bedford  and  Carlisle  did  not  escape  the  war,  but  being  on  their 
guard  they  survived  the  assaults. 

But  this  desperate  war  of  detail  was  by  no  means  confined 
to  tho  military  posts.  All  along  the  whole  fronting  of  Virginia, 
Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  the  slaughter  raged  with  great 
fury.  No  pen  can  ever  tell  all  the  suliering  these  unfortunate 
settlers  endured.  ^ 

At  Fort  Pitt  the  preparations  for  the  expected  attack  were 
continuing.  A  line  of  strong  palisades  was  erected  along  the 
ramparts;  the  barracks  were  made  shot-proof,  to  protect  ite 
inmates.  Preparations  were  also  made  for  extinguishing  any 
fire  that   might  be  produced  by  burning  missels  from  the 


OS,   TUK    BORDKM    WAKM   OK    TWO   (TKNTITKIKR. 


Ill 


ent'my.  Time  passecl  on,  but  nothing  of  importance  ooourred. 
On  the  twenty-Mixth  of  July  a  Hmall  party  of  IndiauH  approached 
the  fort,  and  wen;  admitted.  Among  the  number  were  Chiefs 
Shiiigas,  Turtle*!)  Heart,  and  others,  who  had  hitherto  appeared 
to  l)e  friendly  to  the  EngliMh.  A  council  waH  held,  at  which 
BhingnH  made  the  following  B{)eeuh:  "  Brothers,  what  we  are 
about  to  say  comes  from  our  hearts,  and  not  fVom  our  lips. 
Brothers,  we  wish  to  hold  fast  the  chain  of  friendship  —  that 
ancient  chain  which  our  forefathers  hold  with  their  brethren, 
the  English.  You  have  let  your  end  of  the  chain  fall  to  the 
groun<l,  but  ours  is  still  fast  within  our  hands.  Why  do  you 
cDinphiin  that  our  young  men  have  fired  at  your  soldiers  and 
kilNid  your  cattle  and  your  horses  ?  You  yourselves  are  the 
cause  of  this.  You  marched  your  armies  into  our  country  and 
built  forts  here,  though  we  told  you  again  and  again  that  we 
wished  you  to  remove.  My  brothers,  this  land  is  ours,  and  not 
yours.  My  brothers,  two  days  ago  we  received  a  great  belt  of 
wiiinpum  from  the  Ottawas  of  Detroit,  and  the  message  they 
8eiit  us  was  in  these  words  :  '  Grandfathers,  the  Delawares  by 
this  belt  inform  you  that  in  a  short  time  we  intend  to  pass  in 
a  very  great  body  through  your  country,  on  our  way  to  strike 
the  English  at  the  forts  of  the  Ohio.  Grandfathers,  you  kno'vv 
us  to  be  a  headstrong  people.  We  are  determined  to  stop  at 
nothing,  and  as  we  expect  to  be  very  hungry  we  will  seize  and 
eat  up  everything  that  comes  in  our  way.'  Brothers,  you  have 
heard  the  words  of  the  Ottawas.  If  you  leave  this  place  imme- 
diately, and  go  home  to  your  wives  and  children,  no  harm  will 
come  of  it;  but  if  you  stay  you  must  blame  yourselves  alone 
for  what  may  happen.  Therefore,  we  desire  you  to  remove." 
Capt.  Ecuyer  replied,  saying  the  forts  were  built  to  supply 
the  Indians  with  necessaries.  He  refused  to  leave  the  place, 
and  closed  his  remarks  as  follows :  "  I  have  warriors,  pro- 
visions and  ammunition  to  defend  it  three  years  against  all  the 
Indians  in  the  woods,  and  we  shall  never  abandon  it  as  long  as 
a  white  man  lives  in  America.  I  despise  the  Ottawas,  and  am 
very  much  surprised  at  our  brothers  the  Delawares  for  pro- 
posing to  us  to  leave  this  place  and  go  home.  This  is  our 
home.     You  have  attacked  us  without  reason  or  provocation. 


lit 


TIIK   LIVM  or    lllNIIAd   AMI)    riMlUMMKH: 


I!      < 


You  have  niiirdortHl  uiui  plundcrpd  (»ur  wnrrion*  ami  treclflm. 
You  have  taken  our  liorHOH  and  cuttU%  and  at  tlut  Mamu  timu  yoii 
tell  us  your  luwrtH  are  good  towanlH  your  brethren  the  Kngliidi. 
How  can  I  have  faith  in  you?  Tlieret'ore  now,  brothers,  I  will 
advise  you  to  go  home  to  your  town,  and  take  i-are  of  your 
wiveH  and  children.  Moreover,  I  tell  you  that  if  any  of  you 
appear  again  almut  this  fort  I  will  throw  lM)inb  ithelU,  which 
will  burst  and  blow  you  to  atoms,  and  fire  cannons  among  you, 
loaded  with  a  whole  bagful  of  bullets  ;  therefore  take  care,  for 
1  don't  want  to  hur*.  you." 

The  chief  departed  in  wrath,  and  on  the  night  of  the  follow- 
ing day  the  Indians  appeared  before  the  fort  in  groat  numbers 
aod  began  a  general  attack. 


»? 

.».,: 


OUAPTEn    XIV. 


i  1 


Tub  Wab  on  tiir  Bohdrmh— Th«  MAHcn  or  Death— Tnic  TBHiiirtKD 
[niiabitanth    Pi.RKimi  to  thb  Oi.drr  Town«— Hoiiqukt'b   Armt 

AT    OARMHr.R  — AnVKNTITHKH    or     Voi.ITNTBKRi— HirUNINO     SETTLK. 

MKNTB— Tiir   Hatti.k  ok  Rubiit  UtrN  —  Dihtrkm  and  Danokr  vr 
rnK  Troop*— TiiK  Victory. 

Lravtng  Fort  Pitt  for  the  preBPnt,  let  n»  turn  to  ohaerve  the 
cventH  that  were  trftiiKpirinjf  in  other  quarterH.  All  along  the 
wef«torn  t'ronticrH  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  slaughter  and 
Hiiffering  held  full  Hwny.  Indian  Bcalping  parties  were  pasBlng 
t(»  mid  fro  through  the  country,  murdering  men,  women  and 
children.  It  will  be  seen  that  nearly  all  the  tribes  east  of  the 
Mi>)8issippi  had  now  engaged  in  the  war  ex(%pt  the  Six  Nations, 
and  oven  the  Senecas,  the  (^ayugas,  and  the  Tuscaroras,  l)eIong- 
iiig  to  this  confederacy,  took  part  in  it.  Had  it  not  been  for 
the  timely  influence  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  in  quelling  the 
spirit  of  the  other  nations  of  the  Iroquois  confederacy,  the 
war  would  have  been  very  much  more  disastrous. 

News  of  the  war  now  spread  to  the  older  eastern  settlements 
and  created  great  alarm.  It  soon  bettame  known  that  nine 
forts  had  fallen  into  the  liands  of  the  Indians.  Sir  Jeffery 
Amherst  now,  for  the  first  time,  saw  clearly  that  all  the 
western  tribes  had  united  against  the  English.  He  had  but 
few  soldiers  at  his  command,  and  those  who  could  be  mustered 
were  required  to  strengthen  the  garrisons  that  still  held  out. 
A  reinforcement  was  therefore  sent  to  Niagara,  and  a  detach- 
ment under  Capt.  Dalzell  was  added  to  the  garrison  of  Detroit, 
as  we  have  already  seen. 

Col.  Bouquet,  who  commanded  at  Philadelphia,  mustered  a 
force  of  five  hundred  men,  and  with  a  large  supply  of  provis- 
ions and  ammunition,  he  set  out  for  Fort  Pitt.     He  reached 
8  (113) 


114 


TIIK    I.IVm   or   ntNTIAO   ANI>  tKrHMMKIi: 


i 


OnrlUIn  on  t\w  Hmt  of  July,  whcm  li»  t'oiind  tlio  whole  coiintrj 
in  n  iHinic.  Kvury  Mlioltor  in  t\w  nottlitinunt  whm  crowdod  with 
thu  fHtnilictot'Matlorv  who  hml  iUnl  (Voin  thuir  hoinet  to  CRrape 
the  «uvu^*«.  No  hoHtilo  Indiiiiiit  hiul  yiit  npiM'tinnl  in  tliii 
noi^hlntrhocxl,  hut  on  8uii<lny,  th»  third  ot' July,  u  Holdiur  catiie 
ridinf(  into  t\w  town  witii  th»  inti'lli^nictt  thut  I'n*B({U»  Ulo, 
U^  Hocut'  iiud  Vunun^o  had  lN>(>n  tukon,  nnd  thiit  tho  warrion 
w«ru  then  udvHnRing  on  CarliHio.  ThiH  nowM  throw  thu  Hottlu- 
niont  into  connturnation.  The  crowded  houMw  and  harnii  pro- 
oented  a  Hcenu  of  lively  (M)mmotion.  From  every  quarter  the 
■ettlem  iK)urod  in  until  the  country  had  Imhmi  deitertod  for 
miles  in  every  direction.  Soon  the  rumor  wan  net  on  foot  that 
the  Indians  had  come.  Some  of  the  fugitiveH  had  seen  the 
tmoke  of  burr)in|f(  dwellings  rising  from  the  distant  valioyi, 
others  came  breathlessly  in  from  the  very  scene  of  massacre. 
A  party  of  the  inhabitants  went  out  to  warn  the  living  and 
bury  the  dead.  Arriving  at  Sherman's  Valley  they  found 
fields  laid  waste,  stacks  of  wheat  on  Hre,  and  the  houses  still 
in  tliimcs,  and  they  grew  sick  with  horror  at  seeing  a  group  uf 
hogs  tearing  and  devouring  the  bodies  of  the  dead.  Every 
where  in  this  broad  valley  the  work  of  destruction  was  com. 
plete.  They  marched  on  and  on,  but  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
•ee  the  smoke  was  curling  upwards  from  the  smouldering 
rnins  of  settlers'  houses.  The  Indians  ha<l  made  a  clean  sweep, 
and  it  was  only  now  and  then  that  one  escaped  to  tell  the 
liorrifying  story  of  the  massacre  of  his  family.  One  came  in 
with  the  report  that  he  and  seven  others  were  setting  at  the 
table  in  a  cabin  of  a  settler  on  the  Juniata.  Four  or  five 
Indians  burst  the  door  and  fireil  among  them,  and  then  beat 
down  the  survivors  with  the  butt  of  their  rides.  One  of  the 
men  leaped  from  his  seat,  snatched  up  a  loaded  gun  that 
chanced  to  be  standing  in  the  corner,  and  discharged  its  con- 
tents into  the  breast  of  an  Indian,  and  then  leaping  through  a 
window  made  good  his  escape.  He  fled  through  the  tbretits 
to  a  settlement,  where  he  related  the  news,  and  immediately 
twelve  men  volunteered  to  cross  the  mountains  and  warn  the 
settlers  of  the  Tuscarora  valley,  but  upon  reaching  it  they 
found  that  tlie  enemy  had  been  there  before  them.     Many  of 


ON,    TIIK    IIOKhRR    WAK8   (>f   TWO   crKNTrKIKN. 


115 


thu  hoiiicii  W(>ro  ittill  on  Hr<>,  (/then  w«<r^  Htamlinf(.  Upon 
vnturin^  thoM«  »  f^linKtly  t^O'^tie  whn  pr^fMiUHl.  Tito  dtwd  mid 
iiinn^U'd  iNHlioM  wura  >truwn  npon  the  flo(>r««  And  tho  t'lirnituro 
WAN  Htflinod  with  huiiinn  hUnHl.  T\i*<y  tnrnctl  awa^,  f}|l(Hl  with 
horror.  Tho  ndvoiitiiruri  cntno  upon  ont^  htMiHu  where  tho 
IndiiuiM  had  h«tld  h  tmitt  only  n  fow  hourM  prcvluus.  A  lar^u 
nunilKjr  of  cnttlo  hud  \wimi  killfd,  thu  iru'ut  roiiMtud,  aiid,  tittiT 
t)i(>y  had  i'at(>n  to  their  Nutitd'action,  they  liacl  tied.  l*umuiiif( 
thoir  uoiirM),  the  white  men  noon  came  within  a  tew  ro<lii  of  tho 
cnoiiiy.  Tliey  here  holdly  rcnolve<l  to  ovorUike  them  and  too, 
if  poHiiihIo,  what  dir<w<!tion  they  were  purauliiK.  Tlie  trail  led 
tliein  into  a  thicket,  where,  as  Ho<m  as  they  had  entered  it,  they 
won«  nurprl»ed  hy  a  volU»y  of  munketry,  and  fotir  of  thoir 
uiitnher  were  nhot  down.  Tliirty  warriont  rose  tVom  thoir 
hi<iinf;  places  and  rmthod  upon  them.  The  white  men  returned 
their  fin>  and  then  fled  in  all  directions.  A  hoy  named  Chariot 
Eliot  waH  among  tho  numl)cr.  As  he  ran,  plunging  through 
the  thickets,  ho  heard  his  pursuers  close  Miind.  lie  seized 
his  powder  horn  and  poured  the  contents  into  his  gun,  drop- 
ping a  hullet  in  after  it  without  using  a  ramrod,  and  wheeling 
ahout  he  discharged  his  gun  into  tho  hreast  of  tho  Indian  who 
had  now  advanced  to  within  three  or  four  yards  from  him. 
He  then  continut><l  his  flight,  leaving  tho  Indian  in  the  agonies 
of  death,  but  at  tho  next  moment  a  faint  voice  earnestly  called 
uut  his  name.  Turning  to  the  spot  he  beheld  one  of  his  com* 
panions  stretched  helplessly  on  tho  ground.  Ho  had  boon 
mortally  wounded  by  the  first  shot  from  tho  Indians,  but  had 
advanced  thus  far  before  his  strength  gave  out.  Eliot 
approached  him  but  could  offer  no  assistance.  Tho  dying  man 
looked  up  into  t)ie  face  of  his  comrade,  saying:  *'  Here,  Charley, 
take  my  gun,  whenever  you  see  an  Indian  kill  him  with  it,  and 
then  I  shall  be  satisfied."  Eliot  and  several  others  of  tho  party 
escaped  to  the  settlement.  They  reported  what  thoy  had  seen 
and  experienced,  which  added  another  cloud  of  liorror  to  tho 
desolating  news  that  was  hourly  coming  in  from  all  points  on 
the  frontier.  Several  other  parties  went  out,  and  one  of  thorn, 
commanded  by  tho  sheriff  of  the  place,  encountered  a  band  of 
Indians,  defeated  them,  and  brought  away  many  scalps. 


116 


THE   LIVKfl  OF    I'ONTrAf)    AND  TKCHMflKli: 


The  aettlerH  now  became  frantic  with  iihinn,  and  many  of 
them  left  Carlisle  and  ])U8hed  rapidly  towards  Lancaster  and 
Philadelphia.  "Carlisle,"  says  a  reliable  author,  "presented  a 
most  deplorable  spectacle.  A  multitude  of  refugees,  unable 
to  find  shelter  in  the  town,  had  encamped  in  the  woods  or  on 
the  adjacent  fields,  erecting  huts  of  branches  und  bark,  and 
living  on  such  charity  as  the  slender  met.  .8  of  the  townspeojjle 
could  8up])ly.  Passing  among  them,  one  would  have  witnessed 
every  form  of  human  misery.  In  these  wretched  encamp, 
ments  were  men,  women  and  children,  bereft,  in  one  stroke,  of 
friends,  of  home,  and  the  means  of  supporting  life.  Some 
stood  aghast  and  bewildered  at  the  sudden  and  fatal  blow, 
others  were  sunk  into  the  apathy  of  despair,  others  were  weep- 
ing and  mourning  with  irrepressible  anguish." 
'  The  multitude  s/ere  now  threatened  with  famine,  and  crowds 
of  them  flocked  to  the  tents  of  Bouquet  soliciting  food,  which 
he  gave  them. 

In  the  meantime,  the  march  of  the  little  army  had  been  con- 
siderably delayed.  This  was  owing  to  the  fact  that,  the 
necessary  horses  and  wagons  could  not  be  procured,  without 
returning  to  the  older  towns.  After  a  delay  of  eighteen  days 
Bouquet  broke  up  his  camp  and  marched  towards  Fort  Pitt. 
As  the  little  army  passed  through  (Carlisle,  the  frightened 
inhabitants  crowded  around  them,  and,  no  doubt,  fervently 
prayed  for  their  success.  Bouquet's  march  was  truly  a  bold 
adventure.  In  his  front  lay  a  vast  wilderness,  filled  with  fero- 
cious warriors,  who,  from  their  secret  shelters,  would  shoot 
down  his  soldiers  at  every  turn.  Tlie  meinories  of  former  days 
came  up  to  weigh  upon  the  stout  heart  of  this  gallant  officer. 
He  was  about  to  march  through  a  wild  country  upon  whose 
bosom  slept  the  ])ones  of  Braddock  and  the  hundreds  of  brave 
soldiers  who  fell  around  him.  The  numbers  of  the  latter  far 
exceeded  Bouquet's  whole  foi'ce,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  there 
were  now  a  hundred  warriors  prowling  the  lonely  woods  to  one 
when  Braddock  penetrated  them.  With  one  or  two  exceptions, 
the  soldiers  under  Bouquet's  command  were  wholly  inexpe- 
rienced in  the  perils  of  border  warfare.     To  say  the  least,  the 


<■  V 


OR,  THE   BORDER    WARS   OF  TWO   OENTURira. 


117 


great  end    which   he   had  set  out  to  accoinpliBh  could   not, 
apjHirently,  be  achieved  with  so  small  a  force. 

Let  us,  for  a  single  moment,  glance  at  this  brave  officer  who 
waH  now,  in  the  eyes  of  all  around  liim,  leading  his  army  into 
tlie  jaws  of  death.  Henry  liouquet  was  a  Swiss  by  birth, 
ills  military  career  began  when  a  boy.  Previous  to  the  war 
between  France  and  England,  he  held  a  commiHsion  under  the 
King  of  Sardinia,  but  when  tliat  struggle  began,  in  1755,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  King  of  Holland.  At  this 
time  the  Duke  of  Cumberland  formed  a  plan  to  organize  a 
corps  to  serve  in  the  provinces,  and  to  be  called  the  Eoyal 
Americans.  Bouquet  accepted  a  position  as  Lieutenant  Colonel 
in  this  regiment,  and  his  services  soon  proved  of  great  value. 
"  His  person  was  line,  his  bearing  composed  and  dignified." 
Ev(U"yvvhere  in  the  provinces,  and  more  especially  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  was  regarded  with  profound  respect.  He  was  a  good 
English  scholar,  and  could  write  with  ease,  and  in  a  style  of 
great  purity.  As  a  soldier,  he  was  active,  courageous  and 
faithful.  Withal,  he  had  acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of 
Indian  warfare.  Brave  as  a  lion,  he  would  often,  when  the 
most  dangerous  passes  were  to  be  made,  advance  to  the  front 
of  his  men,  and,  With  no  other  guard  than  his  musket,  lead 
the  way  like  the  boldest  Indian  warrior. 

The  army  marched  along  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Cum- 
berland. On  every  hand  could  be  seen  ruins,  marking  the 
deeds  of  savage  cruelty.  At  length  they  reached  Shippens- 
burg,  about  twenty  miles  from  Carlisle.  Here,  as  at  the  latter 
place,  were  congregated  a  large  number  of  pioneers,  who  had 
fled  in  terror  from  the  scene  of  blood  and  slaugliter. 

From  the  latest  advices,  it  now  appeared  that  Fort  Ligonier 
was  about  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians  who  were 
besieging  it,  and  Bouquet  resolved  to  send  a  detachment  to  its 
relief.  For  this  purpose,  thirty  of  the  best  men  were  selected, 
and  ordered  to  force  their  way  over  the  desolate  mountains. 
Accordingly  the  party  set  out.  Marching  day  and  night,  they 
at  length  came  in  sight  of  the  hapless  fort.  It  was  surrounded 
by  savages  who  were  firing  upon  it.     The  adventurers  made  a 


118 


THE    lilVKH   OK    1H)NTIA0    AND    TEHUMSEH: 


rush  for  the  gate,  and,  although  liotly  charged  upon  by  the 
Indians,  entered  it  without  losing  a  man. 

Biit,  meanwhile,  the  bulk  of  Bouquet's  army  moved  slowly 
on  towards  Fort  Pitt.  Thoy  had  now  entered  a  country  where, 
up  to  this  time,  no  Englishman  had  over  ventured — the  honje 
of  the  fiercest  warriors.  ''  Far  on  their  right  stretched  the 
green  ridges  of  the  Tuscarora,  while,  in  front,  mountain  beyond 
mountain  rose  high  against  the  horizon.  Climbing  heights, 
and  descending  into  the  valleys,  passing  the  two  solitary  posts 
of  Littleton  and  the  Juniata,  both  abandoned  by  their  garri- 
sons, they  came  in  sight  of  Fort  Bedford,  hemmed  in  by 
encircling  mountains." 

Bouquet's  arrival  was  a  happy  event  for  the  tired  and  worn 
garrison.  They  had  long  been  besieged  by  a  swarm  of  Indi- 
ans. Around  this  post,  the  work  of  scalping  and  murdering 
the  settlers  had  been  carried  on  until  the  forests  rang  with  tlie 
Bcalp  yells  of  a  thousand  savages.  All  had  been  killed 
who  failed  to  escape  within  the  gates  of  the  little  fort.  The 
commandant,  Capt.  Ourry  informed  Bouquet  that  for  several 
weeks  he  had  been  unable  to  hear  from  the  garrison  at  Fort 
Pitt.  The  last  accounts  left  it  closely  besieged  by  a  thousand 
warriors.  Aller  resting  his  men  for  three  days  at  this  post, 
Bouquet  continued  his  march,  and  was  soon  buried  in  the  wil- 
derness. The  forest  was  dense,  affording  a  good  opportunity 
for  ambuscades.  In  the  advance  were  the  provincial  rangers, 
closely  followed  by  the  pioneers.  The  wagons  and  cattle  were 
in  the  centre,  guarded  in  front,  flank  and  rear  by  the  regulars. 
Tlie  rear  was  guarded  by  another  company  of  rangers.  The 
riflemen,  acting  as  scouts,  ranged  through  the  woods  far  in 
front  and  at  either  flank.  In  this  order  the  courageous  army 
marched  on;  up,  up  the  rugged  side  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains. It  was  in  the  middle  of  July,  and  the  heat  was  intol- 
erable, but  they  toiled  on,  crossing  the  mountains,  and,  at 
length,  reaching  Fort  Ligonier.  At  their  advance  the  Indians 
fled  in  disorder,  and  Bouquet  marched  quietly  up  to  the  fort. 

At  this  place  he  left  the  cattle,  and  some  of  the  heaviest 
luggage,  and  resolved  to  make  forced  marches  towards  Fort 
Pitt.     Thus  relieved,  the  army  pursued  its  course.     At  no 


OR,    THU   BORDUR    WAR8   oK   TWO   0KNTURIIC8. 


119 


great  distance  in  their  front  were  the  dangerous  passes  of  the 
Turtle  Creek.  At  this  point  Bouquet  expected  to  encounter 
tiic  enemy,  and  he  therefore  pushed  on  towards  Bushy  Run, 
hoping  to  cross  Turtle  Creek  during  the  night.  They  toiled 
oil,  weary  and  foot-sore.  At  length  the  tired  army  was  within 
Imlf  u  mile  of  Bushy  Run.  Here  they  were  to  rest,  preparatory 
to  making  the  forced  march  through  the  dangerous  defiles  of 
Turtle  Creek,  but,  when  within  a  few  rods  of  the  coveted  spot, 
the  report  of  rifles  from  the  front  surprised  the  army.  Alas  I 
they  had  met  the  enemy.  As  they  listened  the  reports  become 
quicker,  and  now  the  fierce  war-whoop  resounded  through  the 
woods.  The  advanced  guard  was  hotly  engaged.  Two  com- 
panies were  at  once  ordered  to  its  support,  but  as  the  firing 
increased,  indicating  that  the  enemy  had  appeared  in  a  large 
force,  the  army  halted,  the  troops  formed  in  line,  and  a  charge 
was  ordered.  "  Bearing  down  through  the  forest  with  fixed 
bayonets,  they  drove  their  yelping  assailants  before  them,  and 
swept  the  ground  clear."  But  no  sooner  had  this  been  done 
than  a  volley  of  musketry  poured  in  upon  them  from  either 
flank,  and  from  the  rear.  Charging  upon  the  enemy  in  the 
rear,  they  routed  the  savages  in  that  quarter,  and  immediately 
surrounded  their  teams.  In  the  distance,  on  every  side  they 
could  hear  the  whoopings  of  the  savages,  and  at  every  moment 
the  report  of  their  guns  sounded  out  through  the  trees.  Again 
and  again,  now  on  this  side  and  now  on  that,  a  crowd  of  Indi- 
ans rushed  up,  pouring  in  a  heavy  fire,  and  striving  with 
ferocious  outcries  to  break  into  the  circle.  At  every  attempt 
a  well  directed  charge  met  them,  putting  them  to  flight.  Few 
of  the  Indians  were  hurt,  while  the  English  suffered  severely 
Thus  the  fight  went  on,  without  intermission,  for  several  hours, 
until  the  darkness  of  night  gathered  round  them.  Now  the 
Indians  slackened  their  fire,  withdrawing  from  the  scene  of 
action. 

The  soldiers  now  encamped  on  the  spot  where  the  battle  had 
taken  place.  Numerous  sentinels  were  stationed  at  a  suitable 
distance  from  the  camp  in  every  direction. 

Bouquet  now  feeling  confident  that  they  would  be  attacked 
on  the  following  morning,  and  fearing  that  he  would  not  sur- 


120 


IIIK    MVKH   OK    IX»NT1A(!    AND   TKCUM8KII : 


vive  the  battle,  wrote  a  short  letter  to  Sir  .left'ery  Amherst, 
>fiving  an  account  of  the  dnyV  events  and  dosing  as  t'oUows: 
•'  Wiiatever  our  fate  may  l)e,  1  tliought  it  necessary  to  give 
your  excellency  this  early  inforimition,  that  you  nuiy,  at  all 
events,  take  such  measures  as  you  nuiy  think  ])n>i)er  with  the 
provinces  for  their  own  safety  and  the  effectual  relief  of  Fort 
Pitt,  as,  in  case  of  another  engagement,  I  fear  insurmountahle 
ditHculties  in  protecting  and  transporting  our  provisions, 
being  already  so  much  weakened  by  the  losses  of  this  day  in 
men  and  horses,  besides  the  additional  necessity  of  carrying 
the  wounded,  whose  situation  is  truly  deplorable."  In  this 
action  about  sixty  soldiers  and  several  officers  had  been  killed 
or  wouTided.  During  the  fight  the  wounded  were  brought 
into  an  open  space  in  the  centre  and  surrounded  by  bags  of 
flour  to  ward  ofi'  the  bullets.  In  this  situation  they  were  com- 
pelled to  lay  helpless,  suffering  the  agonies  of  thirst,  for  there 
was  no  water  near  at  hand.  Should  their  comrades  be  defeated, 
a  fate  inexpressibly  terrible  would  immediately  follow.  The 
c<mdition  of  those  who  still  survived  was  but  little  better. 
They  were  surrounded  by  a  large  number  of  savages,  who  were 
leaping  from  tree  to  tree  in  the  full  hope  of  success.  Eight 
years  before,  in  these  very  forests,  they  had  destroyed  nearly 
twice  their  number  of  British  soldiers.  They  were  now  thirst- 
ing after  the  blood  of  Bouquet's  army. 

No  fires  were  built  in  the  camp  of  the  English;  nothing  to 
break  the  thick  darkness  that  hovered  over  them.  All  was 
still  as  the  grave  throughout  the  night,  but  with  the  dawn  of 
the  following  day  a  burst  of  Indian  yells  went  up  on  every 
side.  In  another  instant  they  opened  fire  upon  them.  The 
bullets  now  flew  thick  in  every  direction  and  the  soldiers  fell 
dead  on  every  hand.  Volley  after  volley  poured  in  until  many 
had  perished.  As  on  the  previous  day  the  1  nclians  would  rush 
up,  endeavoring  to  bi'eak  the  ring,  but  in  every  such  attempt 
they  were  driven  buck  in  disorder.  The  troops  were  now 
suffering  from  thirst  as  well  as  from  the  deadly  fire  of  the 
enemy,  while  in  the  interior  of  the  camp  the  scene  was  all  con- 
fusion. The  horses  became  mad  with  terror  as  the  bullets  flew 
among  them.     They  would  break  away  by  scores,  and  leaping 


o|{,   TJIK    liOKIHiIK   WAK8   OK   TWO   ('KNTUKJKH. 


through  the  rin^  and  paHsiiig  the  HHvngeH  in  their  mad  course, 
tliev  wouhl  Kooii  (lisapijear  in  the  thickeHt  of  tlie  woods. 

At  ten  o'cl(»ek  the  ring  wiiich  encircled  the  convoy  began  to 
wuvi-r.  The  Holdiers  were  falling  fast.  Houquet  looked  on  in 
mkIik'ss  for  a*  moment,  and  then,  conceiving  a  stratagem,  he 
l»iiy;htened  with  hope.  It  was  plain  that  if  the  Indians  could 
be  brought  together  in  a  l)ody  anil  be  made  to  stand  their 
ground  that  he  would  soon  gain  the  day.  To  eti'ect  this  he 
resolved  to  increase  their  confidence.  Two  companies  were 
onlered  to  fall  back  into  the  interior  of  the  camp,  while  the 
troops  on  either  hand  joined  across  the  vacant  space,  as  if  to 
cover  the  retreat  of  their  comrades.  The  orders  were  no  sooner 
olteyed  than  the  Indians,  seeing  that  the  line  had  weakened, 
leaped  from  behind  the  trees  and  rushed  headlong  to  the  Rssault. 
The  shock  was  unbearable.  The  men  struggled  to  maintain  the 
line,  but  the  Indians  seemed  on  the  point  of  breaking  their 
way  through  it,  when  the  situation  of  affairs  took  a  sudden 
change.  The  movement  is  described  in  a  thrilling  manner  by 
Mr.  Parkman: 

"  The  two  companies  who  had  apparently  abandoned  their 
positions,  were  in  fact  destined  to  begin  the  attack,  and  they 
now  sallied  out  from  the  circle  at  a  point  where  a  depression 
in  the  ground,  joined  to  the  thick  growth  of  trees,  concealed 
them  from  the  eyes  of  the  Indians.  Making  a  short  detour 
through  the  woods  they  came  round  upon  the  flank  of  the 
furious  assailants  and  discharged  a  deadly  volley  in  their  very 
midst.  Numbers  were  seen  to  fall;  yet,  though  completely 
surprised  and  utterly  at  a  loss  to  understand  the  nature  of  the 
attack,  the  Indians  faced  about  with  the  greatest  intrepidity 
and  boldly  returned  the  fire;  but  the  Highlanders,  with  yells 
as  wild  as  their  own,  fell  on  them  with  the  bayonet.  The  shock 
was  irresistible  aiid  they  fled  before  the  charging  ranks  of  this 
tumultuous  throng.  Orders  had  been  given  to  two  other  com- 
panies occupying  a  contiguous  part  of  the  circle  to  support 
the  attack  whenever  a  favorable  moment  should  occur,  and 
they  had,  therefore,  advanced  a  little  from  their  position  and 
lay  close,  crouched  in  ambush.  The  fugitives,  pressed  by  the 
Highland  bayonets,  passed  directly  across  their  front,  upon 


i  "It 


.'V 


laa 


TIIK    LIVK8   OF   PONTIAO    AND   TECUMHKIl : 


which  they  arose  atid  poured  among  them  a  second  volley.no 
less  destructive  than  the  former.  This  completed  the  rout. 
The  four  companies  uniting  drove  the  flying  savages  through 
tlie  woods,  giving  them  no  time  to  rally  or  reload  their  empty 
rifles,  killing  many  and  scattering  the  rest  in  hopeless  coq. 
fusion." 

In  another  part  of  the  field  both  t  le  soldiers  and  the  In- 
dians maintained  their  positions  during  this  movement,  but 
when  the  Indians  saw  their  comrades  totally  routed  they  lost 
their  courage  and  fled.  In  a  few  moments  the  whooping  ceased 
and  the  Indians  had  all  disappeared,  leaving  behind  many 
dead.  In  both  battles  the  English  had  lost  eight  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  men. 

Owing  to  the  loss  of  many  of  the  horses,  they  were  now 
unable  to  transport  all  the  stores.  The  surplus  was  destroyed, 
and  again  the  army,  broken  and  haggard,  moved  on  towards 
Fort  Pitt,  which  they  reached  on  the  tenth  of  August.  The 
fort,  which  had  been  closely  besieged  for  nearly  a  month,  was 
now  deserted  and  Bouquet  entered  it  without  opposition. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

DiRABTKR   AT  THE    DeVII/8    HoI-B— FaTK    OF   WiI.KINB'    DkTACIIMKKT  — 

The  FnoNTiEiis  ok  Viuoinia  and  Pknnbvlvania  — SiiAUoiiTER  or 
THE  Settlkmentb  —  Teuuihi.e  Bcknes  anu  Inoiobntb  of  Boudeb 
Wahkaub —  Desolation  — The  Defenseb. 


Bbfokk  leaving  the  provincial  frontier  and  passing  along 
with  the  events  of  border  warfare  towards  the  far  west,  I  must, 
in  order  to  perfect  the  narrative,  mention  briefly  the  events 
that  compelled  the  savages  in  all  quarters  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi to  sue  for  peace.  While  Dalzell  was  marching  against 
the  strongholds  of  Pontiac,  and  Bouquet  forcing  a  bloody  way 
to  Fort  Pitt,  Sir  William  Johnson  was  laboring  judiciously  to 
Becure  the  friendship  of  the  tribe«  of  the  Six  Nations.  For 
this  purpose  he  sent  deputies  to  all  the  villages  in  the  lake 
region,  and  indeed  in  the  whole  northwest,  to  invite  the  war- 
riors to  meet  him  in  council  at  Niagara.  The  council  was 
largely  attended  by  the  people  of  the  Six  Nations,  and,  although 
with  reluctance,  the  Indians  promised  friendship  for  themselves 
and  also  to  make  war  on  those  tribes  who  were  still  in  arms 
against  the  English.  The  tribes  of  Canada  were  induced  to 
send  a  deputation  to  the  western  Indians,  requesting  them  to 
lay  down  the  hatchet.  The  Iroquois  also  sent  deputies  among 
the  Delawares  for  the  same  purpose. 

Notwithstanding  these  conciliatory  measures,  the  frontier 
settlements  of  New  York  suffered  from  the  continued  attacks 
of  the  savages,  for  while  one  force  was  on  foot  to  quell  their 
fur}',  another  was  actively  engaged  to  irritate  it  against  the 
English. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  September,  1763,  a  train  of  wagons 
and  pack-horses  was  proceeding  on  a  return  trip  from  Fort 
Schlosser,  whither  they  had  gone  with  supplies.    When  they 

(123) 


124 


TIIK    I.IVKN   t\h    |t)N'riA(1    ANI>  TKCIiMHKIC 


p '    fi 


1 


I 


n'licluMl  11  point  opjwjHiU)  tliu  DovH'h  lIoUi  tlu^  were  grootod  bj 
u  hlii/u  of  iniirtkvtry.  T\\v  ItorHott  loiipod  iiuully.  On  tho  left 
of  tlio  tmin,  fur  down  tho  uwfiil  procipiw,  liiy  tho  bhiek  ^nlf, 
whiln  o\\  its  right  tho  HiivagoH  woro  loupiiig  from  troo  to  tree 
towiirdrt  them,  yolpiiig  liko  hloodhouudn.  Tho  twonty-tour 
HoldiorH  wiio  giiiinioil  tho  tniin  hohold  dotitli  on  oithor  Hide, 
and  propiired  thoniHolvoH  to  niottt  it.  In  u  nioniont  tho  uwt'nl 
ovi'ut  WI18  ovor.  Tho  horsow  phingo<l  blindly  int»>  tho  fih}sH, 
tuid  tho  whole  train  foil,  crurihing  npon  tho  Khiirp  rookH  fur 
bolow.  Oidy  thrwi  oKcaptnl,  among  whom  was  Stodman,  the 
condnctor  of  tho  train.  Iloholding  tho  approacliing  fato  of  tlif 
convoy,  he  whoolod  his  horno  and  bravely  Hpnrrod  thro\igli  the 
crowd  of  IndianH.  Flying  through  tho  foroHtH  at  a  high  Hpood 
he  80on  reached  Fort  Schlossor,  where  he  reported  his  loss.  At 
no  great  distance  wore  a  party  of  soldiers,  who  had  fortified  a 
cam})  near  tho  laixUng  place.  Those,  hearing  the  report  of 
Indian  riHes,  and  snspocting  the  real  sitnation,  hastentKl  to  the 
relief  of  the  convoy  ;  but  tho  Indians,  having  prepared  for 
their  approach,  soon  routed  them  with  great  slaughter.  As 
they  rushed  along  a  party  of  savages  leaped  from  their  ambus- 
cade and  poured  a  volley  of  musketry  among  them,  shooting 
down  fully  half  their  number.  Pursuing  them  hotly,  the 
Indians  picked  them  oft',  until  only  a  few  escaj)ed.  These  fled 
to  Niagara  with  the  terrible  account  of  their  adventures. 

Major  Wilkins,  on  hearing  it,  immediately  nuirched  his  wliole 
garrison  to  the  spot,  but  the  Indians  had  gone.  They  gathered 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  scalpless  soldiers  together,  to  the  number 
of  seventy,  and  beheld  with  inexpressible  horror  the  awful 
results  of  tlie  ambuscade  of  the  Devil's  Hole. 

The  fury  of  the  Senecas,  who  were  the  actors  in  this  bold 
attack,  did  not  end  with  this.  Not  many  days  after,  as  Major 
Wilkins  was  advancing  to  the  relief  of  Detroit,  on  the  river 
above  the  great  falls  of  Niagara,  he  was  jtoimced  u|)on  by  a 
handful  of  these  fierce  warriors  and  driven  back  with  disorder. 
Recovering  from  this  shock,  Major  Wilkins  again  started  for 
Detroit,  but  this  time  he  was  overtaken  by  a  severe  storm. 
Nearly  all  the  bateaux  were  overset,  over  seventy  men  perished, 
and  the  few  surviving  boats  returned  to  Niagara. 


OK,   TIIK    IH)KI)KK    WAKH   or   TWO   CKNTUKIW. 


126 


Tlu<  midor  will  \n>w  obHorvo  tlmt  all  th«  troiitior  settleinuiita 
of  the  Kii^UhIi  ciilonioM,  and  alno  tlioHu  of  Canadu,  wure  in  a 
d«|»loriil)lo  condition.  Evurywhoro  the  slaughtor  reigned  with 
unultiitiid  fury.  Scarcely  au  hour  paHHed  in  which  the  newH  of 
80int>  liorrihle  inaHHacre  did  not  Htartle  tlie  inhahitantH  fioni 
tbi'ir  rtui:urity.  Day  and  night  tiiu  war  whoop  sounthMl  along 
the  outakirtriof  the  woodtt,  and  every  moment  a  l>and  of  Indiaim 
could  bo  w.'cn  Hying  acroHH  Home  open  Hpace,  with  scalpH  flut- 
tering from  their  loins.  Everywhere  the  people  now  Hed  to 
the  forts  for  safety.  The  dwellings  were  deserted  iiy  their 
owners,  and  btirned  to  the  ground  by  the  Indians.  Hut  happy 
were  those  who  escaped.  Hundreds  and  thousands  received 
DO  warning,  and  perished  beneath  the  tomahawk.  The  ranging 
parties  who  visited  the  scenes  of  slaughter  beheld,  in  shapes 
too  horrible  for  description,  the  half  consumed  bodies  of  men, 
women  and  children,  still  securely  bound  to  the  trees  where 
they  had  prayed  for  death  amid  tiery  tortures. 

While  strong  bands  of  warriors  were  daily  besieging  tlie 
forts  and  harrassing  the  garrisons  of  the  western  forests,  smaller 
bnt  no  less  fierce  war  parties  were  skulking  among  the  border 
woods,  leaping  out  upon  the  settlements  whenever  an  oppor- 
tunity was  presented,  and  murdering  every  Englishman,  woman 
and  child  who  came  in  their  way.  It  was,  perhaps,  from  the 
latter  source  that  most  of  the  suffering  came  upon  the  settle- 
ments. Among  these  bands  there  was  none  more  destructive 
than  one,  about  sixty  in  number,  which  ascended  the  Ken- 
awhaand  ravaged  the  settlements  along  the  banks  of  that  river. 
From  valley  to  valley  they  carried  the  bloody  work,  until  every 
English  person  in  their  course  was  scalped.  Sometimes  they 
would  take  the  unsuspecting  families  by  surprise,  but  as  often 
they  would  slaughter  them  under  the  guise  of  friendship.  Thus 
they  continued  their  march  until  they  reached  the  little  town 
cf  Greenbrier,  where  all  the  inhabitants,  having  received  warn- 
ing of  their  approach,  had  fortified  themselves  into  the  house 
of  Archibald  Glendenning.  Nearly  one  hundred  people  were 
now  crowded  into  this  house.  The  savages  appeared,  and  at 
first  seemed  to  be  friendly.  Some  of  them  were  admitted  to 
the  house  while  others  gathered  in  clouds  outside.     In  one 


VM 


TIIK    I.IVM   oil'    l<i»NTIA(!    AND  IKCUMNKIi: 


*! 

i4 


cornor  of  tho  hotmo  mit  lut  old  ludy  wlio  hud  rucuntly  rocolvcd 
aiili^lit  injury.  8hn  iiuiuii'ctl  of  onu  of  tliu  wurriont  whetlior 
or  not  liu  (!ould  ciiru  hur.  llu  ruplifxl  by  plun^in^  n  knifu  into 
thu  wound,  killing  hur  inHtiintly.  At  thiH  tho  work  of  shui^h- 
tur  begun.  Nunrly  ull  were  killed  und  Moulped  on  the  H[Nit. 
Thu  owner  of  thu  house  Hnutchcd  up  one  of  liiH  children  Hrul 
rushed  from  the  house,  but  meeting  a  bullet  from  one  of  the 
Buvugeti  on  the  outside,  he  fell  dead  in  his  trncks.  A  negro 
woman  leaped  out  of  one  of  thu  win<Iowri  und  run  to  a  place 
of  uoncealment.  She  was  followed  by  hur  screaming  children, 
and  fearing  lest  they  should  betray  her  to  tho  Indians,  she 
killed  them  on  the  spot.  Such  was  tho  awful  liorror  of  the 
moment ! 

Among  those  taken  prisoners  at  this  affray  was  ir.lie  wife  of 
Olendunning,  the  mistress  of  tho  house.  She  was  a  woman 
of  great  fortitude,  and  far  from  allowing  hur  fears  fiom  over- 
coming  her,  she  began  to  abuse  her  captors  for  acting  as  thoy 
had.  "Neither  the  tomahawk  which  they  brandished  over 
her  head,  nor  the  scalp  of  hur  miirdered  husband,  with  which 
they  struck  hur  in  tho  face,  could  silence  the  undaunted  virago." 

When  the  massacre  had  been  finishc.l,  the  Indians  captured 
all  the  horses,  and  packing  u])  the  plunder,  they  started  with  a 
large  number  of  prisoners.  Mrs.  Cllendenning  and  her  infant 
child  was  placed  among  the  ea])tive8.  As  they  marched  along 
through  the  thick  woods,  she  handed  her  child  to  a  woman 
who  was  walking  beside  her,  and  leaving  it  to  a  terrible  fate, 
she  escaped  through  the  woods.  Before  nightfall  she  returned 
to  the  spot  from  whence  they  had  started  aTid  beheld  the 
smouldering  embers  of  her  house.  She  found  the  dead  body 
of  her  husband  and  buried  it  beneath  fence  rails  to  protect  it 
from  the  wolves. 

Not  long  after  this  butchery,  a  raan  chanced  to  be  passing 
by  a  log  school-house  on  the  western  frontier  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  being  struck  with  its  silence,  he  pushed  open  tho  door  and 
looked  within.  "In  the  center  lay  the  master  scalped  and 
lifeless,  with  a  Bible  clasped  in  his  hands,  while  around  the 
room  were  strewn  the  bodies  of  his  pupils,  nine  in  number, 
miserably  mangled,  though  one  of  them  still  retained  a  spark 


OK,  tni  BoKniui  WAKM  or  two  oKirrt'KiKN. 


IBT 


oi  lit'u.*'  It  wiiH  utlurwiird*  known  that  tlio  horriblu  dood  had 
btt'i)  coiiiinittiHl  liy  itiiu  ut'  tlioMO  buniU  of  Iiidiuni. 

TliiiH  I  ini^ht  ^o  on  until  thu  wholo  vuluniu  wum  fillod  with 
liorrorM  liitu  tlu^Ho,  hut  1  inuHt  liBMtun  to  pUMh  thu  nnrrative 
wcHtwiird  to  li  latvr  day.  It  will  HutHcu,  tliuruloru,  to  may  that 
evury  dctiiil  of  thu  war  upon  thu  Huttluniunto  wait  lull  of  woo. 
Evur^'whuru  thu  hand  of  thu  Hurcu  Indian  was  fult;  uvur^^whuie 
tlio  {KHiplu  full  hack  to  tho  oldur  oitioH  fur  Hafuty  or  perished 
bi)ii><ath  thu  Hculpinj^  knifu. 

Gnu  "t*  tho  gruat  fuaturuH  of  tho  sufferingB  of  thlH  poriod 
wax  (>ridurud  hy  thoBu  who  wuru  taken  priHonuri)  and  conducted 
to  tlio  Indian  villagos.  Thu  torture  whicli  those  unfortunate 
porHouH  endured  will  nuvcr  Ihs  told.  Indeed,  at  this  late  day, 
it  is  hotter  that  theso  torinentH  be  paHHud  over.  Many  of  these 
imrriitivos  aru  too  full  of  horror  to  recuivo  crcdenue,  while 
inoHt  of  thuni  aru  of  a  charauter  that  cannot  fail  to  shock  the 
reader  beyond  endurance. 

Ah  thu  nuwR  of  increasing  disaster,  as. well  as  flocks  of  refu- 
gees, rea(;liud  the  eastern  towns  and  cities,  measures  were  taken 
for  tho  relief  of  tlie  frontier.  Private  contributions  were  made 
for  the  relief  of  the  suifurers,  and  the  several  provincial  gov- 
eriiinotits  adopted  such  measures  as  tho  situation  scorned  to 
re([«iire.  In  this  matter,  however,  Pennsylvania  was  rather 
slow.  There  was  a  majority  of  Quakers  in  the  assembly,  and 
therto  singular  persons  wore  unwilling  to  beliovo  that  tho  out- 
break of  the  Indians  was  not  based  upon  good  reasons.  Thoy 
however  ])U88dd  a  bill  for  "  raising  and  equipping  a  force  of 
seven  hundred  meti,  to  be  composed  of  frontier  farmers,  and 
to  be  kept  in  pay  only  during  tho  time  of  harvest.  They  were 
not  to  leave  the  settled  parts  of  the  province  to  engage  in 
offensive  operations  of  any  kind,  nor  even  to  perform  garrison 
duty,  their  sole  object  being  to  enable  the  people  to  gather  in 
their  crops  unmolested."  This  force  was  distributed  along 
the  whole  frontier  of  Pennsylvania.  Two  companies  assigned 
to  the  defense  of  liancaster  county  were  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  clergyman,  Rev.  John  Elder,  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Paxton.  He  is  said  to  have  discharged  hi» 
military  duties  in  a  highly  satisfactory  manner. 


g 


12H 


TIIK    I.IVM  or    |l>N-riA(.    AND    riMUtMftKli: 


Tlio  tVmhlo  nii^Mnn^t  iido]»twl  by  tho  iiii«»mhly  of  Pnnnnyl. 
vnriiii  ('hIUmI  out  loud  iliMApprovnl  lM)tli  uinoii^  tlit>  {H'opU*  cit' 
thut  {troviiuu^  iirid  in  tlio  nfifj^hU)rin^  colotiittM.  In  Vir^inJH 
thu  Governor  hiuI  council  lit  oncti  cull«><l  out  u  tlHUiMund  of  tli«> 
inilitin,  Hv»  liiintlriKl  l>tuiif(  pluciHJ  uiuler  (<olonitl  StifpliuiiH  uml 
Hv»  hun<lr(«(l  undur  Major  \Aim*,  T\h'M)  forccH  niurcluHl  a^uiiiHt 
the  hoHtiU^  trih<>M  on  tht>  Itordi^rx  of  Virginiu  tind  did  ^^omj 
iMTvice.  Tluiy  rout<*d  tin)  hhvii^dh  nt  «!very  |M>int  nnd  r('*»tont| 
c'ontidiMU'c  tunoii^  the  HvttU*rH. 

Hut  with  lu>r  f»!«'hlo  (Icfonni'M  PunnKvivtiniii  cotitinuod  t(» 
mirtbr.  'V\\cy  now  no  lon^tr  wnitod  for  th<*  action  (^f  their 
govonimont,  hut  nrtnin^  tlunuMilvoH,  they  or^iini/tNl  f<>r  their 
own  dofonse.  Thc«i)  now  forct^H  w«r«  directed  u^aiiiHt  tlin 
SuM(|uehannn  villn^uH,  and  after  ^ivat  (daughter  tlci  y  were 
dcfltroyud.  An  «xpc<lition  wan  ni>w  Kct  on  foot  ii^uiiiHt  tli« 
HottlurH  of  Wyoming  on  the  caHt  hranch  of  the  SuH(|nehaiiiiu. 
Tlio  ohjcct  of  the  expedition  waH  to  remove  thene  Mettlerw  who 
had  corne  there  contrary  t4»  the  lawH  of  PenuHylvania,  and  to 
destroy  their  corn  and  provihionn,  which  tni^ht  otlierwine  full 
into  the  handrt  of  the  enemy.  The  party  started  from  llarrih' 
Ferry  under  tho  ctmimand  of  Major  Clayton,  tand  reached 
Wyoming  on  tho  eeventeenth  of  ()ctt)l)er.  They  were  too  late. 
Tho  Indians  had  heen  there  before  thom,  and  ii'(»w  the  settle- 
ment was  reduced  to  ashes.  Tho  bodies  of  its  unfortunate 
inmates  were  brutally  mutilated.  Twenty  had  boon  killed  or 
captured.  Having  buried  the  dead  botlles  of  those  who  had 
perished  in  tho  massacre,  Clayton  returned  witli  his  party  to 
Pennsylvania.  Notwithstanding  these  evidences  of  danger, 
and  that  petitions  from  the  borders  were  daily  arriving,  tho 
Quakers  remained  firm  in  their  inactive  policy. 

Sir  Jeffery  Amherst  liad  now  resigned  his  office  of  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, and  General  Gage  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

Before  Amherst  sailed  for  Kurope  he  had  made  a  requisition 
upon  all  the  provinces  for  troops  to  march  against  the  Indians 
early  in  the  spring  of  1764,  and  as  soon  as  Gage  arrived  he 
contirmed  this  course.  The  retjuisition  was  complied  with 
and  the  troops  were  raised. 


Cfl  A  VTKU     XVI. 


TitK  MoHAViAN   MiMioNa  — TiiKiH   Kkmovai.  —  Dimcui.TiM   IN  Hita 
AUitU'iiiA  — Advanok  orTiiK  I'axton  Mkn  -OnicAr  Kxcitkimknt  — 

TllH  (JUAKKIIM    Voi.UNTItKHINU    TO     KnTKHTHK     A  HM  V  —  'I'll  K    DirVI- 
CUI.TY   HKTTI.KU. 

In  tiik  autumn  of  1708,  tlio  wur  liml  Mprciul  from  thu  Curo- 
liiiiM  on  tho  Houth  U>  Novn  Hcotiti  on  thu  north  txn<\  uiiMt. 
Kvrrywhero  in  the  ittterv(>ninf{  provinct'H  thiMr  honli-r  Hottle- 
nicntp  worn  Dorcly  liurniHiMHl.  Ovur  two  thouHtuui  {MTHonH  h»d 
bc(!n  killud,  or  (;nrrifld  off,  and  nuiirly  that  numhor  of  f>imili«H 
had  h«HMi  driven  from  thoir  homeo.  On  th»'  hordorn  of  Wmn- 
Bylvunia,  the  outtlerH  were  now  fighting  the  IndiiinH  on  the  one 
iiuiid  and  tho  QuakorH  on  t)»o  other.  They  deehired  thuf  the 
latter  would  go  fiirtiior  to  befriend  a  murdering  Dehiwiire  than 
to  protect  tho  borders.  Thin  feeling  agaiuHt  the  QuiikerH  wuh 
not  confined  to  the  low.  The  magiBtrateH  and  tlu^  <ih»rgv  wen 
its  principal  votarioH.  Tlie  borderers  in  this  section  were  now 
placed  between  two  firea,  and  they  resolvt^d  on  vent.  The  Pax- 
ton  men,  who,  as  we  have  already  ween,  were  commanded  by  a 
clergymen,  led  the  way  in  this  work.  The  slaughter  of  tho 
Indians  at  tho  Manor  of  Canestoga,  and  tho  breaking  of  the 
jail  and  murder  of  Indians  at  Fiancastcr,  wore  among  the  atroc- 
ities which  these  fierce  borderers,  now  goaded  to  desperation, 
o|)enly  committed.  Mr.  Elder,  their  leader,  however,  romon- 
Btrated  with  them,  but  failed  to  dissuade  them  from  their 
dcHign.  The  tidings  of  his  massacre  threw  the  country  into 
excitement.  Few  regai-ded  it  as  a  willful  and  deliberate 
crime,  while  many  looked  upon  it  as  the  mistaken  act  of  rash 
men,  fevered  to  deB]>eration  by  wrongs  and  sufferings.  Imme- 
diiitely  following  these  events,  the  war  upon  the  borders 
increased  in  violence,  and  the  excitement,  thmngliout  the 
9  (129) 


i:iO 


TItK    MVKH   OF    fdNTIAO    AND  TKCUMHKli: 


pntvinc'CH,  hccoine  deeper  on  account,  of  tlie  circum8tance& 
which,  in  tht?  coiirrte  of  these  thrilling  events,  now  took  pluce. 
One  of  the  most  important  of  tliese  was  the  policy  pursued  l)y 
the  provincial  government  towards  the  Indians  belonging  to  the 
Moravian  Missions.  The  rea<ler  no  doubt  remembers  that,  for 
immy  years  previous  to  these  events,  the  Moravians  had 
labored  with  good  success  among  the  Indians  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  had  established  several  missions  among  them.  Tliese 
missions  had  been  infested  during  the  war  of  1755.  During 
this  struggle,  the  mission  at  Gradenhutten  was  besieged  by 
both  English,  French  and  Indians,  and  totally  destroyed.  The 
other  missions  were  permitted  to  remain  undisturbed  until  the 
opening  of  the  Pontiac  War,  when  they  soon  became  objects  of 
distrust  to  the  English.  Therefore,  soon  after  the  massacre  at 
Canestoga,  a  party  of  drunken  rangers,  fired  by  the  general 
distrust  of  the  Moravian  Indians,  murdered  several  of  them, 
whom  they  found  sheltered  in  a  barn.  Not  long  aft^r  this, 
the  same  rangers  were  surprised  and  murdered  by  Indians, 
supposed  to  be  from  the  Moraviati  villages,  Nain  and  Wecque- 
tauk,  near  the  Lehigh,  and  from  Wyalusing,  near  Wyoming. 
The  two  former  were,  however,  the  objects  of  the  greatest 
hatred.  The  borderers  now  resolved  to  destroy  these  missions. 
Accordingly,  on  the  tenth  of  October,  1763,  a  party  of  armed 
men  encamped  near  Wecquetauk;  for  the  purpose  of  making 
an  attack  under  cover  of  darkness.  Before  night  had  set  in, 
a  severe  storm  came  on,  wetting  the  ammunition  and  defeating 
the  plan.  On  the  following  day,  the  (Christian  Indians  hear- 
ing of  the  attempt  of  the  previous  evening,  broke  up  and  took 
their  flight. 

Meantime,  charges  against  the  Moravian  converts,  had  been 
laid  before  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania.  It  was  therefore 
resolved  to  disarm  these  Indians,  and  to  remove  them  to  a  point 
where  it  v-ould  be  impossible  for  them  to  commit  further  dep- 
i»:dation8.  Tlie  order  reached  them  on  the  first  of  November, 
and  the  Indians,  yielding  up  their  arms,  prepared  to  depart. 
When  assembled  together  for  the  march,  their  whole  number 
iid  not  exceed  one  hundred  and  twenty.  On  reaching  Phila- 
delphia, and,  indeed,  throughout  the  whole  march,  they  were 


OR,    TMK    liOKDKK    WAKH   OF    TWO    CEMTURIE8. 


131 


greeted  with  threatening  mobs,  whose  fury  it  was  difficult  to 
restrain.  Here  they  were  conducted  to  the  barracks,  which 
had  been  intended  to  receive  them,  but  the  soldiers  refused  to 
admit  them,  saying  that  they  cared  nothing  for  the  order  of 
the  Governor.  All  day  the  savages  remained  in  front  of  the 
barracks,  surrounded  by  a  multitude  who  continued  to  treat 
them  with  abuse.  As  the  soldiers  could  not  be  persuaded  to 
admit  tliem,  they  took  up  their  march  for  Province  Island, 
below  the  city.  Here  they  occupied  some  waste  buildings,  and 
received  the  friendship  and  attention  of  the  Quakers,  As  they 
marched  through  the  city,  the  crowd  followed  them,  hooting 
at  them  from  every  corner. 

The  Paxton  men  now  threatened  that  they  would  visit  Phil- 
adelphia and  slaughter  the  Indians  who  had  thus  been  placed 
under  government  protection.  Indeed,  the  threat  was  partially 
carried  out.  Having  increased  their  numbers,  they  resolved 
to  march  on  Philadelphia.  But  this  had  not  been  done  unti) 
every  possible  effort  to  elicit  the  protection  of  the  government 
had  failed.  On  one  occasion  they  sent  a  wagon  load  of  the 
scalped  and  mangled  corpses  of  their  friends  and  relations,  who 
had  fallen  at  a  recent  Indian  onset,  but  even  the  presence  of 
the  awful  spectacle  failed  to  elicit  decisive  measures.  They 
now  organized  under  Matthew  Smith,  and  towards  the  last  of 
January  took  the  road  for  Philadelphia.  Their  numbers 
exceeded  one  thousand  men.  A  part  of  their  purpose  was  to 
kill  the  Indians  who  had  been  placed  on  Province  Island. 
"  They  pursued  their  march  in  high  confidence,  applauded  by 
the  inhabitants,  and  hourly  increasing  in  numbers." 

The  news  of  this  movement  soon  reached  Philadelphia,  and 
the  alarm  spread  among  the  Quakers  like  wild-fii*e.  They  sus- 
pected the  Indians  to  be  the  object  of  their  mission,  and,  after 
considerable  parley,  it  was  resolved  to  send  thepi  to  New  York, 
where  they  could  receive  the  protection  of  Sir  William  Johnson. 
They  were  immediately  removed,  and  escorted  out  of  the  city. 
Arriving  at  Amboy,  N.  J.,  word  was  received  that  they  would 
not  be  permitted  to  enter  the  State  of  New  York.  A  few 
(lays  after,  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey  ordered  them  to  leave 
tliat  province.    The  distressed  Indians  therefore  retraced  their 


m 


THE    MVKa    OK    IHINIIAO    AND    TKOrMHKIi: 


Bteps  to  Philadelphia,  where  they  arrived  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  January.  This  time  the  soldiers  permitted  them  to 
enter  the  harracks.  Escorting  those  Indians  came  a  detach- 
ment of  a  hundred  and  seventy  soldiers,  which  had  been  sent 
by  Gen.  Gage  from  New  York  in  compliance  with  the  request 
of  Gov.  Penn, 

The  situation  in  Philadelphia  was  now  full  of  danger.  No 
time  could  be  lost.  The  Quakers  in  the  Assembly  concurred 
in  a  measure  looking  towards  the  most  decisive  defense,  and 
everywhere  in  the  once  pacific  city,  the  greatest  excitement 
prevailed.  Franklin  was  the  moving  spirit,  and  "under  his 
auspices,  the  citizens  were  formed  into  military  companies,  six 
of  which  were  of  infantry,  one  of  artillery,  and  two  of  horse. 
Besides  this  force,  several  thousands  of  the  inhabitants,  includ- 
ing many  Quakers,  held  themselves  ready  to  appear  in  arms  at 
a  moment's  notice."  *        i 

But  these  preparations  had  not  been  completed  when  news 
came  in  that  the  Paxton  men  were  advancing  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  city.  Arriving  at  Germantown,  and  hearing 
of  the  preparations  that  had  been  made  for  their  reception, 
they  concluded  to  advance  no  further.  Meanwhile  Philadelphia 
was  t\ill  of  excitement.  Cannon  were  placed  before  the  bar- 
racks, the  soldiers  called  out,  the  citizens  armed,  and  everything 
made  ready.  At  length  a  deputation,  headed  by  Franklin, 
went  out  and  interviewed  the  Paxton  boys.  The  result  of  this 
conference  was  that  Matthew  Smith  and  James  Gibson  were 
appointed  on  the  part  of  the  borderers  to  lay  their  grievances 
before  the  Assembly.  Redress  was  promised,  and  the  frontier- 
men  retired.  The  Indians  remained  secure  within  the  garr  son, 
although  before  the  end  of  the  year  more  than  one-third  of 
their  number  died  with  small-pox. 


h 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


Bradbthket'8  Expedition  —  The  Council  at  Ntaoara  —  Pkaob 
Treaties  —  Bradbtreet  at  Detroit — Counoil  with  tub  Indians — 
Peace  Concluded  — Canadians  Punished — Miohilimackinao  Oar- 
BisoNED—  Fate  of  Capt.  Morris — Bradbtreet  Returns. 

Eably  in  the  spring  of  1764  it  was  resolved  to  send  two 
armies  into  the  Indian  country  to  "  beat  them  into  submis- 
sion "  and  bind  them  as  firm  as  possible  by  treaties.  The 
coii^mand  of  the  first  was  entrusted  to  Col.  Bouquet,  who,  as 
we  have  seen,  was  now  well  acquainted  with  the  mode  of  Indian 
warfare.  He  received  orders  to  advance  to  Fort  Pitt,  and  from 
thence  to  penetrate  the  wilderness  as  far  as  the  Delaware  and 
Shawanee  villages  and  destroy  them.  The  other  army,  which 
Col.  Bradstreet  was  to  c  nmand,  was  to  ascend  the  lakes  and 
force  the  tribes  around  Detroit  into  complete  submission. 

I  shall  not  stop  here  to  give  any  details  as  to  how  these 
armies  were  raised  or  equipped,  but  enter  at  once  into  an 
account  of  their  fortunes  and  failures.  The  army  under  Brad- 
street  left  Albany  on  the  first  of  June  and  moved  toward  Nia- 
gara over  the  usual  route.  Arriving  at  this  place  they  found 
the  plains  beyond  thickly  dotted  with  the  wigwams  of  the 
Indians.  Not  many  months  previous,  in  the  autumn  of  1763, 
Sir  William  Johnson  had  sent  his  messengers  to  the  tribes  in 
all  parts  of  the  Northwest,  warning  them  that  in  the  spring  a 
large  army  was  coming  to  destroy  them,  and  urging  all  who 
desired  peace  to  meet  him  at  Niagara.  The  defeat  and  sufier- 
ings  of  the  Indians  during  the  early  part  of  the  winter  com- 
bined to  urge  a  hearty  acceptance  of  his  proposal,  and  many 
warriors  now  set  out  for  the  council  at  Niagara. 

Alexander  Henry,  of  whose  adventures  at  Michilimackinao 
the  reader  has  already  been  informed,  was  at  the  Sant  Ste. 

(133) 


Hi 


TIIK    MVKH    OK    HONTfAO    ANH   TK(1UM8KII : 


Harie  with  a  party  of  OjibwaB  when  a  canoe  tilled  with  the 
deputies  of  Sir  Williatn  Johnson  arrived.  A  council  was  held 
at  wliich  one  of  the  deputies  delivered  the  following  speech; 
"  My  friends  and  brothers,  I  am  come  with  this  belt  from  our 
great  father,  Sir  William  Johnson.  lie  desired  me  to  oome  to 
you  as  his  ambassador  and  tell  you  that  he  is  making  a  great 
feast  at  Fort  Niagara;  that  his  kettles  are  all  ready  an<l  his 
fires  lighted.  He  invites  you  to  })artako  of  the  feast  in  com- 
mon with  your  friends  the  Six  Nations,  who  liave  all  made 
peace  with  the  English.  He  advises  you  to  seize  this  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  the  same,  as  you  cannot  otherwise  fail  of  being 
destroyed,  for  the  English  are  on  their  march  with  a  great 
army,  which  will  be  joined  by  different  nations  of  Indians.  In 
a  word,  before  *,he  fall  of  the  leaf  they  will  be  at  Michilimack- 
inac,  and  the  Six  Nations  with  them." 

The  Ojibwas  had  just  received  a  message  from  Pontiac,  at 
Detroit,  urging  them  to  join  him  against  that  post,  and  now 
the  messenger  from  Sir  William  Johnson  caused  them  to  waver. 
Many  of  them  were  in  favor  of  act  jpting  the  last  invitation 
to  go  to  Niagara;  but,  unwilling  to  depend  upon  their  own 
judgment  in  the  matter,  they  sought  to  be  guided  by  the 
spirit  of  the  Great  Turtle,  the  chief  of  all  the  spirits.  For 
this  purpose  they  erected  a  large  wigwam,  quite  large  enough 
to  accommodate  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  place.  Within  thih. 
in  the  centre,  they  built  a  sort  of  tabernacle,  covering  it  with 
hides.  With  the  approach  of  night  all  the  warriors  gathered 
into  the  wigwam  and  waited  for  the  coming  of  the  spirit.  The 
magician,  stripped  almost  naked,  now  entered  the  little  tent  in 
the  centre.  This  was  only  large  enough  to  receive  him.  At 
once  the  curious  demonstration  began.  The  little  tent  began 
to  shake  and  a  hideous  voice  sounded  from  within.  This  was 
supposed  to  be  an  evil  spirit.  Presently  this  ceased  and  a 
whining  cry  was  heard  in  its  place.  The  warriors  sent  up  a 
cry  of  joy,  declaring  it  to  be  the  voice  of  the  Great  Turtle.  It 
being  now  declared  that  the  spirit  was  ready  to  answer  ques- 
tions, the  principal  chief  asked  if  it  would  be  wise  to  accept 
the  invitation  of  Sir  William  Johnson.  "Sir  William  John- 
son," said  the  spirit,  "  will  fill  your  canoes  with  presents,  with 


OB,   TIfK   BORDER   WARS   OF   TWO   rENTURIKH. 


135 


blankets,  kettles,  guns,  gunpowder  and  sliot,  and  large  barrels 
of  rum,  such  as  the  stoutest  of  the  Indians  will  nut  be  able  to 
lift,  and  every  man  will  i*eturn  irt  safety  to  his  family."  To 
this  the  cry  was  sent  up  from  the  multitude,  "  1  will  go,  1 
will  go!" 

Accordingly  they  set  out  on  their  journey  for  Niagara,  to 
wlilch  point  hundreds  of  savages  were  now  traveling.  Thus 
they  gathered  in  from  all  quarters  until  around  Fort  Niagara 
tlie  assembly  increased  to  at  least  four  thousand  Indians. 
Among  them  were  the  Menomonies,  Ottawas,  Ojibwas,  ^.ns- 
sissaugas,  Oaughnawagas,  Wyandots,  Iroquois,  Such,  Foxes  and 
Osages.  With  this  large  force  of  savages,  many  of  whom  were 
hy  no  means  friendly,  it  was  necessary  to  observe  the  greatest 
ciintion  to  prevent  a  rupture. 

Notwithstanding  the  tribes  were  fully  represented,  there 
still  remained  many  hostile  Indians,  who  were  already  moving 
towards  the  frontier  settlements  with  uplifted  hatchets.  Among 
these  were  the  Delawares  and  Shawanoes,  against  whom  Bou- 
quet was  now  marching.  These  were  already  moving  against 
the  settlements  on  the  borders  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 

Before  the  council  could  proceed  Johnson  sent  for  the  Senecas, 
who,  it  would  seem,  were  not  disposed  to  put  in  an  appearance. 
The  messenger  was  told  to  inform  them  that  unless  they  came 
to  Niagara  immediately,  a  strong  army  would  march  against 
them  and  destroy  them  utterly.  This  message  had  full  effect. 
The  Senecas  sent  a  full  deputation,  accompanied  by  several 
prisoners.  Tlie  council  now  began.  A  treaty  was  made  with 
this  nation  in  which  they  agreed  never  again  to  lift  the  hatchet 
against  the  English.  They  also,  by  this  treaty  ceded  a  strip 
of  land  between  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  bordering  on  the 
Xiagara  river.  A  treaty  was  next  made  with  the  Wyandots, 
from  Detroit.  They  were  to  deliver  up  their  prisoners,  and 
for  the  future  continue  peaceful.  Councils  were  now  held  with 
each  tribe  in  turn  and  treaties  made.  This  occupied  several 
days,  during  which  the  ground  around  Fort  Niagara  presented 
a  lively  appearance. 

During  all  this  time  Bradstreet's  army  had  been  detained  at 
Niagara.      It  was  feared  tliat  some  of  the  warriors  would 


186 


THU    I.IVKH   or    lltNilAt;    AND   TKCHMHKIi: 


attack  the  fort,  uiid  that,  nhonid  the  troops  leave,  the  vast 
number  of  suva^eM  in  the  neigliborhood  might  form  a  dodign 
to  Hiaughter  the  garrison.  On  the  sixth  of  August,  Johnson 
departed  for  OHwego,  and,  soon  after,  the  Indians  disappear- 
ing,  Bradstreet  proceeded  on  his  way  towards  Detroit.  About 
tliree  hundred  Canadians  and  as  many  Indians  accompanied 
the  army,  in  arms.  It  was  believed  that  the  Indians  would  be 
discouraged  at  seeing  the  French  on  the  side  of  the  English. 

Alexander  Henry,  who  accompanied  the  Ojibwa  deputies 
from  the  Saut  Ste.  Marie,  commanded  the  Indian  forces.  He 
iiad  received  the  appointment  on  account  of  his  extensive 
acquaintance  among  the  savages  to  whose  country  Bradstreet 
was  now  marching. 

Reaching  Presque  Isle,  the  command  was  met  by  a  strag. 
gling  band  of  warriors,  who  styled  themselves  deputies  from 
the  Delawares  and  Shawanoes.  They  said  they  had  been  sent 
to  sue  for  peace  in  the  name  of  these  nations.  They  were 
suspected  as  spies  by  all  but  tlie  commanding  ofiicer,  who,  not 
only  foolishly  entered  into  a  treaty  with  them,  but  sent  a  mes- 
senger to  I^uquet,  informing  him  that  tlie  Delawares  and 
Shawanoes  had  been  reduced  to  submission  without  his  assist- 
ance, and  that  he  might  discontinue  his  march  towards  Fort 
Pitt.  Bouquet  was  indignant  at  this  message,  and  took  no 
notice  of  it.  Everywhere  on  the  border  slaughter  reigned 
almost  undisputed. 

Passing  on  to  Sandusky,  Bradstreet  was  met  by  a  deputation 
.  from  the  Wyandots,  Ottawas  and  Miamis  dwelling  in  that 
neighborhood,  and,  although  he  had  been  instructed  to  destroy 
their  villages,  he  now  entered  into  a  treaty  with  these  Indians, 
promising  not  to  injure  them,  on  the  conditions  that  they 
would  never  again  lift  the  hatchet  against  the  English.  At 
this  place  Bradstreet  dispatched  Capt.  Morris,  with  a  few 
friendly  Canadians  and  Indians,  to  persuade  the  Indians  in  the 
country  of  the  Illinois  to  treat  for  peace  with  the  English. 
The  fate  of  Morris'  detachment  will  be  seen  in  the  course  of 
the  narrative. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  August,  the  army  undpr  Bradstreet's 
command  arrived  at  Detroit,  where  it  received  a  most  hearty 


OR,   TIIK    nOKDKB    WARH   OK   TWO   (iKNTruiKS. 


18T 


welcome.  At  the  earliest  postiihle  inottietit  the  garrison  watt 
relieved,  and  tresh  troops  substituted  iu  their  place.  The 
Ciinadiaiis  who  had  ai<led  Pontiac  in  the  war  were  next  tried, 
t'uinid  guilty,  and  j)unished.  Many  of  them,  however,  had  fled 
tu  Illinois,  and  thus  escaped  punishment. 

Hrudstreet  next  summoned  the  surrounding  tribes  to  a 
council,  which  was  held  in  the  open  air,  on  the  seventh  of 
S'^ptcniher,  and  at  which  a  general  peace  was  concluded.  He 
next  despatched  Capt.  Howard,  with  a  strong  detachment,  to 
take  possession  of  Michilimackinae.  Howard  performed  this 
duty,  meeting  with  no  resistance  whatever.  He  also  sent 
parties  to  garrison  the  posts  at  Green  Bay  and  Saut  Ste.  Marie. 

Let  us  now  see  what  had  become  of  Capt.  Morris  and  hi» 
expedition.  Soon  after  leaving  the  army  at  Sandusky,  he 
arrived  at  the  camp  of  Pontiac,  on  the  Maumee.  Here  the 
Ottawa  chief  plundered  the  expedition  of  everything  except 
their  arms  and  clothing,  and  suffered  them  to  depart.  On 
every  liand  Morris  was  treated  with  contempt,  and  being  men- 
aced with  death  should  he  attempt  to  continue  his  journey 
towards  Illinois,  he  set  out  for  Detroit,  hoping  to  find  Brad- 
street  there.  In  this  hope  he  was  disappointed.  Morris  was 
informed  that  his  commander  had  gone  down  to  Sandusky^ 
but  he  refused  to  follow  him. 

While  at  Sandusky,  Bradstreet  received  a  letter  from  Gen. 
Gage,  disapproving  of  the  course  he  had  taken,  and  ordering 
him  to  march  against  the  Indian  village  on  the  Scioto.  This 
intelligence,  together  with  the  news  of  Capt.  Morris'  failure 
was  too  much  for  the  temper  of  the  commander.  Kefusing  ta 
obey  the  orders  of  his  superior  officer,  on  the  pretext  that  the 
season  was  too  far  advanced,  he  returned  home,  with  his 
broken  and  J isheartened  army.  ^  t 


CHATTEIl    XVIII. 


Bouqitet'h  Ahmt  in  tiik  Indian  Counthy— Hk  Himiimikh  tiik  Dru- 

WAKKH     AND    SlIAWANOKH —  8cKNKH     AT     TIIK     KnUI.IMII     CaMP  —  TwO 
IIUNDRKU    1*KI80NKI18   GiVKN   UP— RkTUUN   OK   TIIK    Kxi'KlHTKHll. 

Turning  our  attention  once  more  to  the  borders  of  PenuByl- 
vania,  we  find  Indian  war-parties  active  in  the  work  of  deso- 
lating the  Bettlemente.  80  de8))erate  had  the  Bavages  now 
become  that  the  English  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  issued  a 
proclamation  offering  a  high  bounty  for  Indian  scalpt*,  whether 
of  men  or  women.  As  might  be  Buppose<l,  this  measure  pro- 
duced additional  butcheries.  Among  thewe  I  will  cite  that 
perpetrated  by  David  Owens.  Several  yeai-s  previous  he  had 
deserted  and  joined  the  Indians.  One  day  early  in  the  spring 
of  1764  he  came  to  the  settlements,  bringing  with  him  a  young 
man  recently  taken  prisoner  by  the  Delaware^.  While  living 
amon^  the  Indians  Owens  had  formed  a  connection  with  one 
of  their  women,  who  had  borne  him  several  children.  He  now 
resolved  to  return  to  the  settlements,  and  to  carry  with  him  a 
number  of  scalps.  One  night  he  had  been  encamped  on  the 
Susquehanna  with  a  party  consisting  of  four  Shawanoe  warriors, 
a  boy  of  the  same  tribe,  his  own  wife  and  two  children,  and 
another  Indian  woman.  The  prisoner  already  mentioned  was 
also  present.  In  the  middle  of  the  night  Owens  arose,  and 
finding  all  fast  asleep  he  awakened  the  prisoner  and  told  him 
his  intentions,  requesting  him  to  go  out  a  little  way  and  lie 
quietly  concealed  until  he  had  finished  his  bloody  work.  Owens 
then  removed  the  weapons  from  the  sides  of  the  savages,  and 
hid  them  in  the  woods.  Returning  he  knelt  on  the  ground 
between  two  of  the  unconscious  warriors,  and  pointing  a  rifle 
at  the  head  of  each,  touched  the  triggers  and  shot  both  dead 
at  once.     The  two  surviving  warriors  sprang  up  and  ran  for 

(138) 


OR,   TIIK    BOKr)l<:U    WAKM   «)F   TW<»   CKNTntlKH. 


189 


their  Hvch,  whilu  the  wuiiiun  und  children,  heiiuinhud  with  ter- 
ror, had  no  power  to  OHcupe,  and  one  und  hU  died,  Hhrieking 
beneath  the  tomahawk.  Having  completed  the  Hlau^hter  he 
gat  down  among  the  dead  and  waited  patiently  for  tiio  dawn. 
Art  moon  as  it  waH  light  he  scalped  the  dead,  excepting  the  two 
cliildren,and  left  for  the  settleinentH,  which  he  reached  in  nafety, 
ill  company  with  the  young  man  who  had  been  held  a  priHoner 
in  the  camp. 

BoiKpUit  WU8  now  on  the  march  with  Iuh  army.  On  the  tifth 
of  AugUHt  he  readied  CarliHle.  Hit)  force  coiiMinted  of  five 
imndred  rcgularB,  mo»t  of  whom  had  fought  with  iiitn  at  the 
battle  of  Bushy  Run,  a  thousand  Penn sylvan ians,  and  a  corps 
of  Virginia  riflemen.  The  army  now  advanced  to  Fort  Loudon, 
where  Uouquet  received  a  letter  frotn  Bradstreet,  informing 
him  that  he  could  return  with  his  army,  as  peace  had  already 
been  concluded  with  the  Delawares  and  Shawanoes.  As  before 
mentioned,  Bouquet  took  no  notice  of  the  communication,  but 
pushed  forward  towards  Fort  Pitt,  where  he  arrived  on  the  sev- 
enteenth of  September.  Immediately  after  his  arrival  a  party 
of  Delawares  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  pro- 
fessing to  be  sent  as  deputies  from  their  nation  to  treat  of  peace 
with  the  English.  After  some  hesitation  three  of  them  came 
to  the  fort,  wliere  they  were  held  as  spies.  The  remainder  fled 
in  haste  to  their  villages.  Bouquet,  however,  released  one  of 
the  captives  and  sent  him  home  v/ith  a  message  as  follows  : 
*'  I  have  received  an  account  from  Colonel  Bradstreet  that  your 
nations  had  begged  for  peace,  which  he  had  consented  to  grant 
upon  assurance  that  you  had  recalled  all  your  warriors  from 
our  frontiers,  and  in  consequence  of  this  I  would  not  have 
proceeded  against  your  towns  if  I  had  not  heard  that  in  open 
violation  of  your  engagement  you  have  since  murdered  several 
of  our  people.  I  was  therefore  determined  to  have  attacked 
you,  as  a  people  whose  promise  can  no  more  be  relied  on  ;  but 
I  will  place  it  once  more  in  your  power  to  save  yourselves  and 
your  families  from  total  destruction,  by  giving  us  satisfaction 
for  the  hostilities  committed  against  us.  And  first  you  are  to 
leave  the  path  open  for  my  expresses  from  hence  to  Detroit ; 
and  as  I  am  now  to  send  two  men  with  dispatches  to  Col.  Brad- 


140 


illK    I.IVKM   OK    lltNtlAfl    AM)    rKrckLSKII : 


Mtroot,  wlio  uoiiiiimiKlri  on  thu  lukcH,  I  iliwira  to  know  w)u!thcr 
)'oti  will  Hund  two  of  your  puoplu  to  bririfj^  tli«)rn  mt'v  Ituok  with 
an  iihriwur;  and  it'  tliuy  ruuoivu  nny  injury,  uithur  in  Kt>in^  or 
coming,  or  it'  thu  lutturH  itru  Uikun  from  thcni,  I  will  iintiicdi- 
Htuly  put  the  Indiantt  now  in  my  power  to  duutli,  and  will  hIiuw 
no  mercy,  for  the  future,  to  any  of  your  nation  tluit  HJiall  tall 
into  my  handH.  1  will  allow  you  ten  days  to  have  my  lott«n 
delivered  at  Detroit,  and  ten  daytt  to  bring  me  baek  an  auRwer." 

TIiIh  Indian  repaired  tohin  village  and  delivered  the  mcBHo^ 
in  good  faith.  The  warriorw  wore  singularly  impreH8ed  with 
its  deciHive  tone,  and  they  wore  now  ready  to  sue  for  pcnct 
8oon  after  some  Iroquois  Indians  appeared  near  the  fort,  and 
endeavored  to  discourage  Bouquet  from  penetrating  the  coun- 
try any  further.  They  represerited  the  great  numbers  of  the 
savages,  and  the  dangerous  passes  which  ho  would  have  to 
encounter;  but  to  all  Bouquet  made  but  one  reply  —  that  be 
was  determined  to  move  against  them  with  his  whole  armv 
immediately. 

Accordingly  he  set  out  early  in  October,  and  in  ten  days 
reached  the  river  Muskingum.  As  they  passed  along  through 
the  lonely  forests  the  Indian  cabins  were  all  deseited.  But 
now  Bouquet  was  iu  the  heart  of  the  Indian  country,  and 
within  a  few  days'  march  of  the  strongest  Indian  villages.  He 
continued  his  march  down  the  river  until  he  came  to  a  favorable 
spot  for  encamping.  Here  he  erected  a  small  palisade  work, 
as  a  depot  for  the  stores  and  baggage;  but  before  the  task  was 
liaK  completed  a  deputation  of  chiefs  arrived,  saying  that  the 
warriors  were  encamped  in  great  numbers  about  eight  miles 
distant.  They  desired  Bouquet  to  appoint  a  Mme  and  place 
for  holding  a  council.  The  colonel  complied,  telling  them  to 
meet  him  on  the  next  day,  near  the  margin  of  the  river,  a  little 
below  his  camp.  A  rude  tent  was  erected  on  the  spot,  to 
accommodate  the  assembly.  In  the  morning  Bouquet  moved 
his  little  array  in  marching  order  to  the  spot.  Soon  after  the 
Indians  arrived,  and  the  great  chiefs  of  the  Delawares  and 
Shawanoes  took  seats  upon  mats  prepared  for  them.  Except- 
ing Pontiac,  these  two  men  stood  unequalled  in  the  American 
forests.    A  full  deputation  was  present.     When  all  had  been 


OK,   TilK    ll«)KnKK    WAKH   OF  TWO  (^KNTIIUIM. 


141 


i(>uU)*l,  uti*l  tliu  (uniiulitios  of  Binukiiifi^  thu  pipo  cikUmI,  Tiirtlu 
Ilcurt,  »  chiot'  of  tliu  Dolawarofl,  and  thu  luoMt  notixl  orator 
proHviit,  luldroHHod  the  Engliiih  cominandur  »m  follows,  dulivur- 
in^  li  l>t>lt  of  wampum  at  thu  oiid  uf  uvury  claiiHu  of  hiH  Hpiutdi : 

"  Brother,  I  Bpuak  in  huhalf  of  tliu  thruu  nutiont«  whoHe 
chictH  iiru  huru  pruHont.  With  thiu  hult  I  opun  your  uiirH  and 
your  hctirtH,  that  you  may  lititun  to  my  wordH. 

*' Brother,  tliiri  war  waH  noithur  your  fault  nor  ourH  ;  it  waM 
till'  work  of  the  nations  wlio  live  to  the  wcHtward,  and  of  our 
wild  youn^  men,  who  would  have  killed  um  if  we  ha<l  reHiuted 
them.  We  now  put  away  all  evil  from  our  heartn,  and  we  hop© 
that  your  mind  and  ours  Avill  once  more  he  united  together. 

"Brother,  it  is  the  will  of  the  Great  Spirit  that  there  should 
be  peace  between  us.  Wo  on  our  side  now  take  fast  hold  of 
the  chain  of  friendship,  buc  as  we  cannot  hold  it  alone,  we 
desire  that  you  will  take  hold  also,  and  wo  must  look  up  to  the 
Great  Spirit  Miat  he  may  make  us  strong  and  not  permit  this 
chain  to  fall  from  our  hands. 

"  Brother,  these  words  come  from  our  hearts  and  not  from 
our  lips.  Y'ou  desire  that  we  should  deliver  up  your  Hesh  and 
blood  now  ca])tivcs  among  us,  and  to  show  you  that  we  are 
sincere,  we  now  return  you  as  many  of  them  as  we  have  at 
present  been  able  to  bring.  [Here  he  delivered  up  eighteen 
prisoners.]  You  shall  receive  the  rest  as  soon  as  we  have  time 
to  collect  them." 

The  council  now  adjourned  till  the  following  day,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Indian  custom,  but  a  heavy  storm  coming  up,  it 
was  postponed  two  days.  On  the  third  day,  the  weather  being 
fair,  the  army  again  moved  down  to  the  rude  council-house. 
Here  all  the  warriors  were  assembled,  and  here,  on  this  occa- 
sion, Bouquet  delivered  his  reply  as  follows: 

"Sachems,  war-chief,  and  warriors,  the  excuses  you  have 
offered  are  frivolous  and  unavailing,  and  your  conduct  is 
without  defense  or  apology.  You  could  not  have  acted  as  you 
pretend  you  have  done,  through  fear  of  the  western  nations, 
for,  had  you  stood  faithful  to  us  you  knew  that  we  would  have 
protected  you  against  their  anger,  and  as  for  your  young  men 
it  was  your  duty  to  punish  them  if  they  did  amiss.     You  have 


148 


TMK    IIVKM    or    |1»NTIA<'    AND   TKI  IMNKIi: 


HrHwn  down  our  jimt  reMMitinunt  hy  your  violuitco  nnd  pr 
tldity.  l<AHt  Humrnnr,  in  oold  1>IimmI,  nnd  in  h  tinio  ot'  proitixind 
{K>nco,  you  rtdilHMl  and  mnrdcrod  thu  tnwiont  who  Im^l  rortui 
iiinonf(  you  Rt  your  own  c^preMM  dtwirt!.  You  Httackud  Kort 
I'itt,  wliioli  WHM  built  by  your  coniMint,  nnd  you  dtittroyctl  our 
tbrtM  itnd  ^irriHoni  whnnMvnr  treachery  could  platu*  thcrti  in 
your  pow(*r.  Vou  amwiltHl  our  tn>o|)«,  th«  mhiiiu  wlio  now  tttiwul 
iH^tbre  you,  in  thu  wtMKli  at  HuRhy  Kun,  und  when  wt>  litul 
routed  iiml  driven  you  otf,  you  Hent  your  Hcalpin^  partit>K  i) 
the  frontier  and  murdered  many  hundr«MiH  of  our  fMU)ple.  \A*t 
July,  when  the  other  nationit  came  to  aHk  for  |)eHce  at  Niuf^nt, 
you  not  only  refuHed  to  attend,  but  nent  an  inM«>l('nt  moHHa^' 
instead,  in  whieh  you  expressed  a  pretended  contempt  for  the 
fc)n^lish,  and  at  the  same  time  told  the  surrounding  nation* 
that  you  would  never  lay  down  the  hatchet.  Atterwards,  wh»ii 
(yolonel  Bradstreet  came  up  Lake  Krio,  you  sent  a  dcputntion 
of  your  cltiefs  and  concluded  a  treaty  with  thetn,  but  yiviir 
engagements  were  no  sooner  made  than  broken,  and  from  that 
day  to  this  yon  have  scalped  and  butchered  us  without  min- 
ing. Nay,  I  am  informed  that  when  you  heard  that  tliis  armv 
was  penetrating  the  woods  you  mustered  your  warriorH  to 
attack  us,  and  were  only  deterred  from  doing  so  when  you 
found  how  greatly  we  outnumbered  you.  Tliis  is  not  the  only 
instance  of  your  bad  faith,  for  since  the  ))eginning  of  the  laitt 
war  you  have  made  repeated  treaties  with  us  and  promised  to 
give  up  your  prisoners,  but  you  have  never  kept  theHe  engage- 
ments nor  any  others.  We  shall  endure  this  no  long(^r,  and  I 
am  now  come  among  you  to  force  you  to  make  aftonement  tor 
the  injuries  you  have  done  us.  I  have  brought  with  me  the 
relatives  of  those  you  have  murdered.  These  are  eager  for 
vengeance,  and  nothing  restrains  them  from  taking  it,  but  my 
assurance  that  this  army  shall  not  leave  your  conutry  until 
you  have  given  them  an  ample  satisfaction.  Your  allies,  the 
Ottawas,  Ojibwas,  and  Wyandots,  have  bogged  for  peace. 
The  Six  Nations  have  leagued  themselves  with  us.  The  great 
lakes  and  rivers  around  you  are  all  in  our  possession,  and  your 
friends,  the  French,  are  in  subjection  to  us,  and  can  do  no 
more  to  aid  you.     You  are  all  in  our  power,  and  if  we  chooie 


OR,  Til  It  mmorK  wakh  or  two  okntiiririi. 


148 


wf  ('tin  «>xtnrniinnt«>  you  tVoiii  tlii«  t'nrtli.  Hut  t\w  Kuf^liiih  Mr«» 
tiii>rciful  an<l  ^•imrouH  |h>o|>Ii>,  nvt<rM<  to  mImmI  tlit!  McmmI  vvim 
of  their  ^n*ntti«t  uiuiimU^m,  mu\  it'  it  wtirtt  |N)itNihlu  thut  yon 
nxiM  iuinviiu!u  UN  tlint  you  Hiiictfntjy  reptuit  of  your  |N<rt{iiy, 
luid  tliHt  wi>  could  (io|M>nil  u|n>u  your  ^nnI  lH«)ii»v'or  tor  th«) 
future,  you  nii^lit  yet  Iio|n)  tor  iiiurcy  Miid  \mioia.  If  I  Hud 
thnt  you  faithfully  ttxecutc  the  voiiilitionM  which  I  iihall  yn- 
icrilie,  I  will  tiot  treat  you  with  tho  Hoverity  you  dniervo.  I 
will  f^ivu  you  twelve  duyn  from  thiH  date  t4)  deliver  iiitxt  my 
IihimIh  idl  the  priMonera  in  your  posMesMion,  without  exception, 
EnKl>>*l>'»<''i«  Frenuhmeu,  women  atid  children,  whether  adopted 
in  your  triitcH,  married  or  living  umon^  you  under  any  denom- 
iiiAtion  or  pretence  whatever;  and  you  are  to  fumiMh  thoite 
prittonerH  with  clothiuf^,  proviHions  and  lioriieH  to  carry  them 
to  Fort  Pitt.  When  you  have  fully  complied  with  thege  Cvon* 
ditionri,  you  Mhall  then  know  on  what  teriuH  you  may  obtain 
tin-  jMjace  you  huo  for." 

Tliin  Hpeetth  had  the  doHired  efTeot.  The  connoll  broke  up 
Htid  the  Indians  fully  believing  that  they  would  all  be  destroyed 
8Jioiiid  they  fail  to  comply  with  Bouquet's  demands,  hastened 
to  gather  in  the  prisoners.  Meanwhile  Bouquet,  wishing  to 
perptuate  the  fear  in  which  he  had  ])laced  them,  moved  down 
with  his  army  in  the  midst  of  their  villages,  where  he  could 
punish  them  whenever  they  deserved  it. 

Tlie  savages  now  departed  to  collect  tho  prisoners,  and  in  a 
few  days  over  two  hundred  had  been  delivered  to  l^uquet. 
Tliis  was  by  no  means  all  who  had  been  captured,  but  it  was 
all  thnt  could  bo  obtained  within  tho  time  allowed.  The 
others  had  been  carried  into  Illinois  and  were  for  the  present 
beyond  their  reach. 

It  will  not  be  proper  to  pass  over  these  prisoners  witlioTit 
noticing  their  condition  and  the  circumstances  by  which  they 
had  been  surrounded  while  in  the  hands  of  their  captors.  In 
the  ranks  of  Bouquet's  army,  were  the  fatliers,  brothers  and 
husbands  of  these  unfortunate  persons,  for  whose  rescue  they 
had  volunteered  to  march  into  the  wilds  of  the  Indian  country. 
"  Ignorant  of  what  had  befallen  them,  and  doubtftil  whether 
they  were  yet  among  the  living,  these  men  had  joined  the 


144 


THK    IdVVSi  OV    I1)MTIA0   AND  TUCUMSEii: 


army  in  the  feverish  hope  of  winning  them  back  to  home  and 
civilization."  No  doubt  many  whom  they  now  sought  had 
perished  by  the  elaborate  torments  of  the  stake  or  the  hatchet, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  many  still  lived  among  the  savages. 
In  many  instances  whole  families  had  been  carried  off.  In 
Buch  cases  the  old  and  the  sick  were  tomahawked,  while  the 
rest,  divided  among  the  warriors,  were  scattered  among  the 
various  tribes.  It  was,  indeed,  a  thrilling  sight,  when  troop 
after  troop  of  prisoners  arrived  at  the  camp  of  Bouquet.  The 
meeting  of  husbands  with  wives,  fathers  with  children,  brothers 
with  sisters,  who  had  long  been  separated,  was  full  of  dramatic 
situations.  Some  were  groaning  beneath  agonies  on  hearing 
of  the  horrible  death  of  their  relatives.  Frantic  women  were 
flying  to  and  fro,  amid  the  throng,  in  search  of  those  whose 
bodies,  perhaps,  had  long  since  been  thrown  to  the  wolves; 
others  were  pausing  in  an  agony  of  doubt,  unable  to  identify 
their  long  lost  children.  Again,  others  were  divided  between 
delight  and  anguish;-  joy  of  unexpected  recognition,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  doubts  not  yet  resolved,  on  the  other.  Not  a  single 
spectator  could  look  on  unmoved.  The  scene  was  full  of 
impressive  features.  Among  the  children  brought  in  were 
those  who  had  been  captured  several  years  before  while  infants. 
These,  of  course,  were  unable  to  understand  why  they  should 
be  placed  into  the  hands  of  strangers,  and  were  deeply  terriiied 
at  parting  with  their  adopted  mothers.  But,  sadder  than  all, 
there  were  young  women  who  had  become  the  partners  of 
Indian  husbands,  and  now,  with  their  strange  hybrid  offspring, 
were  led  reluctantly  into  the  presence  of  fathers  or  brothers, 
whose  images  they  had  forgotten.  Agitated  and  bewildered, 
they  stood,  painflilly  contending  with  passions  that  bound  them 
to  their  tawny  lovers,  and  trying  to  overcome  the  shame  of 
their  real  or  fancied  disgrace.  These  women  were  compelled 
to  leave  their  sorrowing  husbands,  and,  with  their  children, 
return  to  the  settlements.  It  is  true,  however,  that  they  pro- 
tested against  it,  and  that  afterwards  several  made  their  escape, 
eagerly  hastening  back  to  their  Indian  husbands. 

Perhaps  the  most  touching  scene  of  all  was  this.     A  young 
Virginian,  robbed  of  his  wife  but  a  few  months  before,  had 


OR,   THBT  BORDER    WARS  OF  TWO  0BNTURIK8. 


145 


yoluntcered  in  the  expedition,  with  the  faint  hope  of  recovering 
her,  and,  after  long  suspense,  had  recognized  her  among  a  tr^op 
of  prisoners,  bearing  in  her  arms  a  child  born  during  her  cap- 
tivity. The  joy  of  their  meeting  was  marred  by  the  absence 
of  an  older  child  who  had  been  captured  with  her  mother,  but 
soon  taken  from  her.  At  length,  however,  the  child  was 
brought  to  the  camp  in  the  arms  of  a  warrior,  and  the  mother, 
recognizing  it,  sprang  forward  and  snatched  it  in  frantic 
delight. 

When  the  army  reached  Carlisle  on  its  return,  hundreds 
flocked  hither  to  see,  if  among  the  prisoners,  they  might  not 
find  some  lost  relative.  Among  these  was  an  old  woman,  whose 
daughter  had  been  carried  off  nine  years  before.  In  the  crowd 
of  female  captives,  she  discovered  one  in  whose  countenance  she 
decerned  the  altered  lineaments  of  her  daughter;  but  the  girl, 
having  almost  lost  her  command  of  the  English  language,  and 
forgetting  the  looks  of  her  mother,  took  no  notice  of  her.  At 
this  the  old  lady  wept  bitterly,  saying  that  "  the  daughter 
whom  she  had  so  often  sung  to  sleep  on  her  knee,  had  forgot- 
ten her  in  her  old  age."  Bouquet,  hearing  her  complaint, 
said:  "Sing  the  song  that  you  used  to  sing  to  her  when  a 
child."  The  anxious  old  lady  obeyed,  and  as  her  trembling 
voice  ran  over  the  air,  the  tears  rushed  to  the  eyes  of  her 
daughter,  for  she  now  recognized  and  remembered  her  mother's 
voice. 

Having  finished  its  work,  Bouquet's  army  returned  to  Fort 
Pitt,  and  from  thence  to  the  settlements,  where  the  prisoners 
were  distributed  to  their  homes.  Bouquet  had  fully  accom- 
plished the  mission  for  which  he  had  penetrated  the  forest,  and 
now  he  received  the  praise  of  every  good  citizen  in  the  prov- 
inces. At  the  next  session  of  the  Pennsylvania  Assembly,  it 
lost  no  time  in  voting  the  country's  thanks  to  Col.  Bouquet. 
The  Assembly  of  Virginia  passed  a  similar  vote,  and  both  houses 
concurred  in  recommending  Bouquet  to  the  King  for  promotion. 
But  the  news  of  his  success  having  reached  the  throne  before 
the  intelligence  of  this  just  recognition,  the  King,  without 
provincial  advice,  had  promoted  him  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier, 
10 


Hi 


UH 


TIIK    IJVKH   DF    PONTIAO   AND   'rKt)L'M8Kli: 


and  the  command  of  tlic  Southern  Department.     Bouquet  died 
three  years  after. 

One  condition  of  the  treaty  which  this  gallant  officer  had 
made  with  the  Indians  was  that  all  the  tribes  were  to  send 
deputies  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  with  whom  they  were  to  con- 
clude a  permanent  treaty.  Having  given  hostages  for  the 
fuimiment  of  this  engagement,  they  were  up  to  their  promise 
and  the  nations  were  fully  represented.  In  the  treaty  which 
they  now  made  with  Sir  William  Johnson,  it  was  stipulated 
that  they  should  all  join  the  English  army  in  its  march  into 
Illinois,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  British  in  getting  pos 
session  of  the  forts  in  that  country. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


Groohan'b  Expedition  —  Muhder  of  Indians  —  Expedition  aoainbt 
THE  Indians  —  Battle  of  Point  Pleasant  —  Dunmore  Retires 
FBOM  THE  West  —  Fort  Erected  :.:  Boonsboroooh — CoNSprnAOT 
TO  Unite  the  Indians. 


After  the  peace  which  was  conchided  between  the  Indians 
and  Sir  William  Johnson  in  1764,  Col.  George  Groghan,  a 
cominis.!.  ^er  under  the  latter,  was  sent  to  explore  the  country 
adjacei  .  e  Ohio  river  and  to  conciliate  the  Indians  in  that 
quarter.  Accompanied  by  the  deputies  of  the  Senecas,  Shaw- 
anoes  and  Delawares,  he  left  Fort  Pitt  on  the  fifteenth  of  May, 
1765,  and  in  two  bateaux  proceeded  down  the  Ohio  river.  On 
the  fifth  of  June  he  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash,  and 
from  this  point  he  dispatched  two  Indian  runners  with  letters 
to  Lord  Frazer,  a  British  officer  commanding  at  a  post  in  Illir- 
nois,  and  to  M.  St.  Auge,  the  French  commandant  at  Fort 
Charters.  On  the  eighth  of  the  same  month  his  party  was 
attacked  by  eighty  Indian  warriors.  They  killed  two  white 
men  and  three  Indians,  wounded  Col.  Groghan  and  made  him 
and  all  the  white  men  prisoners,  and  plundered  them  of  all 
the  valuables  in  their  possession.  After  a  perilous  route,  in 
which  Groghan  visited  many  Indian  villages,  he  made  his  way 
to  Niagara,  reaching  that  fort  in  October.  So  matters  stood 
in  the  West  in  1765.  All  beyond  the  Alleghanies,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  forts,  was  a  wilderness,  until  the  Wabash 
was  reached,  where  dwelt  a  few  French,  with  some  fellow  coun- 
trymen not  far  from  them,  upon  the  Illinois  and  Kaskaskia. 
The  Indians,  a  few  years  since,  undisputed  owners  of  the 
prairies  and  broad  vales,  now  held  them  by  sufierance,  having 
been  twice  conquered  by  the  arms  of  England.  They,  of 
course,  felt  both  hatred  and  fear;  and,  while  they  despaired  of 

(147) 


148 


THK    LIVES   OF    PONTIAO    AND   TP30UM8EH: 


holding  tljeir  lands  and  looked  forward  to  unknown  evils,  the 
doopost  and  most  abiding  spirit  of  revenge  was  roused  within 
them.  They  had  seen  the  British  coming  to  take  their  hunt- 
ing grounds  upon  the  strength  of  a  treaty  they  knew  not  of. 
They  had  been  forced  to  admit  British  troops  into  their 
country;  and,  though  now  nominally  protected  from  settlers, 
the  promised  protection  would  be  but  an  incentive  to  pas- 
sion, in  case  it  was  not  in  good  faith  extended  to  them. 

And  it  was  not  in  good  faith  extended  to  them  by  either 
individuals  or  governments.  During  the  year  that  succeeded 
the  treaty  of  German  Flats,  settlers  crossed  the  mountains  and 
took  possession  of  lands  in  western  Virginia  and  along  the 
Monongahela.  The  Indians,  having  received  no  pay  for  these 
lands,  murmured,  and  once  more  a  border  war  was  feared. 
Gen.  Gage,  commander  of  the  king's  forces,  issued  orders  for 
the  removal  of  the  settlers,  but  they  defied  his  power  and 
remained  where  they  were.  But  not  only  did  the  frontier  men 
thus  pass  the  line  urged  on,  but  Sir  William  Johnson  himself 
was  even  then  meditating  a  step  which  would  have  produced, 
had  it  been  taken,  a  general  Indian  war.  This  was  the  forma- 
tion of  an  independent  colony  south  of  the  Ohio  river.  It 
was  the  intention  to  purchase  the  lands  from  the  Six  Nations 
and  then  to  procure  from  the  king  a  grant  of  as  much  territory 
as  the  company  would  require.  Other  schemes  were  also  on 
foot  for  a  similar  purpose,  which  resulted  in  a  good  deal  of 
rivalry  and  speculation.  Franklin,  however,  was  in  favor  of 
making  large  settlements  in  the  West,  and  as  the  system 
of  managing  the  Indians  by  superintendents  was  then  in  bad 
odor,  it  was  thought  changes  should  be  made  in  this  respect. 

The  discussion  of  the  boundary  line  between  the  Indians 
and  the  settlements  now  began  to  receive  attention.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson  was  authorized  to  treat  with  the  savages  on  this 
eubject,  and,  accordingly,  he  summoned  them  to  meet  him  in 
council  at  Fort  Stanwix.  The  council  was  held  in  the  followinfr 
October  and  was  attended  by  representatives  from  New  Jersey. 
Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  by  Sir  William  Johnson  and  his 
deputies,  by  the  agents  of  those  traders  who  had  suffered  iu 
the  war  of  1763,  and  by  deputies  from  all  the  Six  Nations, 


OR,    THE   BORDER    WARS   OF   TWO    CENTIIRIKM. 


149 


the  Delawares  and  the  Shawanoes.  The  first  question  that 
came  np  was  that  of  the  boundary  line  whicli  was  to  determine 
the  Indian  lands  of  the  West  from  that  time  forward,  and  this 
line  the  Indians  claimed,  upon  the  first  of  November,  should 
begin  on  the  Ohio,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cherokee  river;  thenco 
up  the  Ohio  and  Alleghany  to  Kittaning;  thence  across  to  the 
Susquehanna,  etc.,  whereby  the  whole  country  south  of  the 
Alleghany  was  ceded  to  the  British.  A  deed  for  part  of  this 
land  was  made  in  November  to  William  Trent.  The  tract  thus 
conveyed  lay  between  the  Kanawha  and  Monongahcla,  and  was 
called  Indiana.  Tv/o  days  afterwards  a  deed  for  tlie  remaining 
wcBteni  lands  was  made  to  the  king  and  tlie  price  agreed  upon 
paid  down. 

Other  grants  were  also  made  and  now  the  white  man  could 
quiet  his  conscience  when  driving  the  native  from  his  forest 
home,  and  feel  confident  that  an  army  would  assist  him,  if 
necessary.  The  work  of  settlement  now  began  to  revive,  and 
in  a  few  years  scattering  colonies  had  been  planted  along  the 
Ohio  and  in  Kentucky,  as  well  as  in  Indiana.  The  savages 
now  became  jealous  at  seeing  their  best  hunting  grounds 
invaded,  and  notwithstanding  the  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix,  they 
were  not  disposed  to  give  up  the  territory  without  a  struggle. 
Widespread  dissatisfact'on  prevailed  among  the  Shawanoes  and 
Mingoes.  This  was  fostered  by  the  French  traders,  who  still 
(laine  among  them,  and  now  a  series  of  events  followed  well 
calculated  to  ranew  the  hostility  of  the  Indians.  Everywhere 
emigration  flowed  in  and  the  best  ground  j  of  the  savages  were 
occupied.  In  addition  to  the  murder  of  several  single  Indians 
by  the  frontier  men,  in  1772,  five  families  of  the  natives  on 
Little  Kanawha  were  killed  in  revenge  for  the  death  of  a  white 
family  on  Gauley  river,  although  no  evidence  existed  to  prove 
who  committed  the  last  named  outrage.  It  would  now  seem 
that  the  settlers  were  foremost  in  raising  a  quarrel. 

In  April  news  was  received  that  the  Shawanoes  could  no 
longer  be  trusted,  and  when  Capt.  Michael  Gresap,  who  was 
now  at  Wheeling  speculating  in  lands,  heard  that  three  Cher- 
okees  had  attacked  a  canoe  in  which  were  three  white  men, 
killing  one  of  them,  he  went  out  with  a  party,  and  attacked 


160 


THK    LIVKH   OK    l-ONTIAO    AND   TKlTUMHKIi: 


a  band  of  t'ritMidly  SlmwanueH,  killing  two  of  tht>m,and  throw- 
ing tlieir  bodies  into  the  river.  This  event  occurred  near 
Wheeling,  and  was  soon  followed  by  other  atrocities  committed 
by  the  same  party.  During  the  same  day,  hearing  that  there 
was  an  encampment  of  savages  at  the  month  of  the  Captina,  thej 
went  down  the  river  to  the  place,  attacked  them  and  killed 
several.  In  this  affair  one  of  Gresap's  party  was  severely 
wounded.  In  a  few  days  another  massacre  of  Indians  occur- 
red about  forty  miles  above  Wheeling  by  a  party  of  frontiernion 
led  on  by  Daniel  Greathouse.  In  this  affair  twelve  Indiiing 
were  killed  and  several  wounded. 

These  outrages  increased  the  fury  of  the  savages  against  the 
settlers,  and  it  was  now  evident  that  a  general  war  would  fol- 
low. The  Virginia  frontiermen  deemed  it  advisable  to  assume 
the  offensive,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  done,  aiu',  accordingly, 
an  army  was  gathered  at  Wheeling,  which,  in  .Inly,  1774, 
under  Colonel  McDonald,  descended  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of 
Captina  (Fish)  Creek,  when  it  was  proposed  to  march  against 
the  Indian  town  of  Wappatomica,  on  the  Muskingum.  The 
march  was  successfully  accomplished,  and  the  Indians  having 
been  frustrated  in  an  expected  surprise  of  the  invaders,  sued 
for  peace,  and  gave  five  of  their  chiefs  as  hostages.  Two  of 
these  were  afterwards  set  at  liberty  for  the  ])urpose  of  calling 
the  tribes  together  to  ratify  the  treaty,  and  thus  put  an  end  to 
the  war.  It  was  now  ascertained  that  the  Indians  were  merely 
trying  to  gain  time  in  which  to  prepare  for  a  general  outbreak, 
and  the  Virginians,  therefore,  proceeded  to  destroy  their  vil- 
lages and  crops,  and  then  retired  to  Williamsburg,  carrying  with 
them  three  of  their  chiefs  as  prisoners.  But  even  these  decis- 
ive acts  did  not  discourage  the  savages  from  pursuing  their 
designs.  The  Delawares,  however,  vere  anxious  for  peace. 
Sir  William  Johnson  sent  out  word  to  his  Hock  to  remain  quiet, 
and  even  the  Shawanoes  were  prevailed  on  by  their  great  leader, 
Cornstalk,  to  exercise  their  influence  to  prevent  a  war;  indeed 
they  went  so  far  as  to  protect  some  wandering  traders  from  the 
vengeance  of  the  Mingoes,  whose  relatives  had  been  slain  at 
Yellow  Creek  and  Captina,  and  sent  them  with  their  property 


*  Perkins'  N 


OK,    TIIK    HnUDKK    WARH    (H'   TWO   0KNTURIK8. 


161 


safe  to  Fort  Pitt,  now  P'ort  I)iuiinort>.  Hut  Loj^an,*  who  had 
been  turnwl  by  the  imirderH  on  th«  Ohio  tVoni  a  friendly  to  a 
deadly  foe  of  the  whiter,  came  stuldenly  upon  the  Monou^a- 
hela  riettlemcnts,  and  while  the  other  Indianu  were  hesitating 
a8  to  their  courHe,  took  hiH  thirteen  ricalpH  in  retaliation  for  the 
miinler  of  his  family  and  frien<lH  by  the  party  under  Gresap, 
and  returning  home,  expressed  hiiUHelf  satirttied,  and  ready  to 
listen  to  the  Lonjs^- Knives.  But  it  was  not,  apparently,  the 
wiflh  of  Dunmoro  or  Connolly  to  meet  the  friendly  spirit  of 
the  natives,  and  when,  about  the  tenth  of  Junj,  three  of  the 
Shawanoes  conducted  the  traders,  who  had  been  among  them, 
safely  to  Fort  Pitt,  Connolly,  who  had  possessed  liimself  of 
this  post  and  called  it  Fort  Dnnmore,  had  even  the  meanness 
to  attempt  first  to  seize  them,  and  when  foiled  in  this  by  Co\. 
Croghan,  his  uncle,  who  had  been  alienated  by  his  tyranny,  he 
sent  men  to  watch,  waylay  and  kill  them;  and  one  account 
says  that  one  of  the  three  was  slain.  Indeed,  the  character 
developed  by  this  man,  while  commandant  at  Fort  Diinihore, 
was  such  as  to  excite  universal  detestation,  and  at  hift  to  draw 
down  upon  Lord  Dunraore  the  reproof  of  Lord  Dartmouth. 
He  seized  property,  and  imprisoned  while  luon  without  warrant 
or  propriety;  and,  in  many  cases  beside  that  just  mentioned, 
treated  the  natives  with  an  utter  disregard  of  justice.  It  is 
not,  then,  surprising  that  Indian  attacks  occurred  ai'miv^  the 
frontiers  from  June  to  September;  nor,  on  the  other  hand, 
need  we  wonder  that  the  Virginians  became  more  and  more 
excited,  and  eager  to  repay  the  injuries  received. 

To  put  a  stop  to  these  devastations,  two  large  bodies  of  troops 
were  gathering  in  Virginia;  the  one  from  the  soutliern  and 
western  part  of  the  State,  under  General  Andrew  Lewis,  met 
at  Camp  Union,  now  Lewisburg,  near  tlie  White  Sulphur 
Springs;  the  other  from  the  northern  and  eastern  counties,  was 
to  be  under  the  command  of  Dunmore  himself,  and,  descend- 
ing the  Ohio  from  Fort  Pitt,  was  to  meet  Lewis'  army  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawlia.  The  force  under  Lewis, 
amounting  to  eleven  hundred  men,  commenced  its  march  upon 
the  sixth  of  September,  and  upon  the  sixth  of  October  reached 

*  Perkins'  Narrative. 


162 


TllK   UVKH  or    l-ONTIAU   AND  'IWiUMHKII I 


the  spot  agreed  Jipoii.**     Ah  Ixnti  Duiimorc  wug  not  there,  and 
ae  other  troopH  were  to  follow  down  the  Kunuwhii  utider  Col. 
Ohristian,  General  LewiH  (linptitchud  runnerK  towards  Fort  Pitt 
to  inform  the  Cointnandor-in-Chiot*  of  his  arrival,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  encamp  at  the  point  where  the  two  rivers  meet. 
Hero  he  remained  until  the  ninth  of  October,  when  dispatchefl 
from  the  Governor  reached  him,  informing  him  that  the  plan 
uf  the  campaign  was  altered;  that  he  (Dunmoro)  meant  to 
proceed  directly  against  the  Shawanoes  towns  of  the  Scioto, 
and  Lewis  was  ordered  at  once  to  cross  the  Ohio  and  meet  the 
other  army  before  those  towns.     But  on  the  very  day  when 
this  movement  should  have  been  executed,  the  Indians  in  force, 
headed  by  the  able  and  brave  chief  of  the  Shawanoes,  Corn- 
stalk, appeared  before  the  army  of  Virginians,  determined  then 
and  there  to  avenge  past  wrongs  and  cripple  vitally  the  power 
of  the  invaders.     Delawares,  Iroquois,  Wyandots  and  Shawa- 
noes, undoi*  their  most  noted  chiefs,  among  whom  was  Logan, 
formed  the  army  opposed  to  that  of  Lewis,  and  with  both  the 
struggle  of  that  day  was  one  of  life  and  death.     Soon  after 
sunrise  the  presence  of  the  savages  was  discovered;  General 
licwis  ordered  out  his  brother.  Colonel  Charles  Lewis,  and 
Colonel  Fleming,  to  reconnoitre  the  ground  where  they  had 
been  seen ;  this  at  once  brought  on  the  engagement.     In  a 
short  time  Colonel  Lewis  was  killed,  and  Colonel  Fleming  dis- 
abled; the  troops,  thus  left  without  commanders,  wavered,  but 
Colonel  Field  with  his  regiment  coming  to  the  rescue,  they 
again   stood  firm;  about  noon  Colonel   Field  was  killed,  thid 
Captain  Evan  Shelby  (father  of  Isaac  Shelby,  Governor  of  Ken- 
tucky in   after  time,  and  who  was  then  Lieutenant  in  hiB 
father's  company,)  took  the  command;  and  the  battle  still  con- 
tinued.    It  was  now  drawing  toward   evening,  and  yet  the 
contest  raged  without  decided  success  for  either  party,  when 
General  Lewis  ordered  a  body  of  men  to  gain  the  flank  of  the 
enemy  by  means  of  Crooked  Creek,  a  small  stream  which  ran 
into  the  Kanawha  about  four  hundred  yards  above  its  mouth. 
This  was  successfully  performed,  and  resulted  in  driving  the 
Indians  across  the  Ohio.     The  Virginians  lost  in  this  battle 

*  Peck's  Narrative. 


(IK,   THK    UOKDKK   WAKH  OF   TWO  (1KNTUKIKB. 


isa 


ievcnty-Hve  men  killed,  and  one  hnndred  and  forty  woundod — 
nearly  onu-titYh  of  tlieir  entire  nninber.  Among  tiio  elain^ 
wore  Colonels  Charles  Lewis  and  Field,  and  Captains  Bufurd, 
Morrow,  Wood,  Cunditt',  Wilson  and  Robert  McClanaImn  and 
others.  The  loss  of  the  iiemy  could  not  be  fully  ascertained. 
Next  morning.  Colonel  Christian  explored  the  battle  ground, 
and  found  the  dead  bodies  of  thirty-three  IndiatiH.  It  is  prob- 
able that  many  others  had  been  carried  off  before  the  savages 
were  routed. 

In  the  meantime  Lord  Dunmore  had  descended  the  river 
from  Fort  Pitt,  and  was,  at  the  time  he  sent  word  to  Lewis  of 
bis  change  of  plans,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hocking,  where  he 
built  a  blockhouse,  called  Fort  Gower,  and  remained  until  after 
tbe  battle  at  that  point.  Thence  he  marched  to  the  Scioto, 
while  Lewis  and  the  remains  of  the  army  under  his  command, 
strengthened  by  the  troops  tmder  Colonel  Christian,  pressed  for- 
ward to  the  sanie  place,  with  the  full  hope  of  annihilating  the 
Indian  towns,  and  punishing  the  inhabitants  for  all  they  had 
done.  However,  before  reaching  the  enemy's  country,  Dun- 
more  was  visited  by  the  chiefs  asking  for  peace.  He  listened 
to  their  requests,  and,  appointing  a  place  where  a  council  was 
to  be  held,  sent  orders  to  Lewis  to  discontinue  liis  march  against 
the  Shawanoe  towns.  Lewis,  however,  saw  fit  to  disobey  these 
orders,  and  proceeded  on.  Dunmore  now  set  out  in  person, 
and,  overtaking  Lewis,  compelled  him  to  return. 

Dunmore  remained  for  some  time  at  Camp  Charlotte,  upon 
Sippo  Creek,  near  Westfall,  where  he  met  Cornstalk,  who,  being 
satisfied  of  the  futility  of  any  further  struggle,  was  determined 
to  make  peace  and  arranged  with  the  governor  the  prelimi- 
naries of  a  treaty.  This  action  created  great  dissatisfaction  in 
Virginia,  as  it  had  been  hoped  that  the  army  would  strike  an 
eflfectual  blow.*  It  is  believed,  however,  that  the  governor  of 
Virginia,  foresaw  the  contest  between  England  and  the  colonies, 
and  desired  to  gain  the  fi'iendship  of  these  savages.  When 
Lord  Dunmore  retired  from  the  West,  he  left  one  hundred 
meu  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha,  a  few  more  at  Fort 
Pitt,  and  another  corps  at  Wheeling,  then  called  Fort  Fincastle^ 

•  Western  Annals,  p.  152. 


154 


TIIK    I.IVM   OK    lltNTIAtl    ANIt    IKl  UMHKIi: 


Tlufw  were  diHiniHiKMl  m  th«  ])rort|H»ct  of  war  (waned.  I/)r(i 
Duiiiiian)  H)(r(H>(l  to  roturn  to  I*itt8l)iir^  in  thu  npriii^,  inf!<!t  thi> 
Indians  and  t'onn  a  dotinitu  peace;  hut  the  coninteiu'iununt  ot 
the  revolt  of  the  colonies  prevente<l. 

During  "  DuninoreV  War,"  att  thene  IiofttilitieH  were  eiilld, 
the  militia  waH  called  out  and  Daniel  Huont;  waH  appointed  hy 
tlie(^)vernor  to  the  coinniaiid  ot  tiireo  ^arriH«»nH  on  the  frontier. 
Peace  Inung  now  concluded,  Hoone  and  hin  conipanioUH  turned 
tlu'ir  attention  towanU  the  ptirchane  of  laiuJH.  Several  com. 
paniert  were  organized,  and  ne^otiatioUH  hegan  with  a  view  to 
purchasing  landn  from  the  Iiidiung.  Thene  com])anieri,  however, 
failed  to  ^ain  the  support  of  the  government,  and  their  plans 
were  in  a  great  nioaHure  thwarted. 

From  the  day  of  the  unpopular  treaty  at  Camp  Oliarlotte, 
the  western  Hettlers  had  been  apprehenhive  of  another  Indittn 
outbreak.  The  tribes  were  now  every  day  being  wrought  op 
to  fury  by  agents  of  the  Engiirth  who  readied  their  villu^eK 
tlirough  Canada.  It  was  not  long  before  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Eastern  colonies  saw  the  dangers  that  were  accuinulatin|f 
from  this  source.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1776  the  AwHenibly 
of  Massachusetts  wrote  to  a  missionary  among  the  Oneidus, 
informing  him  that  having  heani  that  the  English  were  trvinji; 
to  attach  the  Six  Nations  to  their  interest,  it  liad  been  thoii;;ht 
proper  to  ask  the  several  tribes,  through  him,  to  stand  neutral. 
Steps  were  also  taken  to  secure  the  co-operation,  if  possible, 
of  the  Penobscot  and  Stockbridge  Indians;  the  latter  of  whom 
replied  that  though  they  could  never  understand  what  the 
quarrel  between  the  Provinces  and  old  England  was  about,  yet 
they  would  stand  by  the  Americans.  They  also  offered  to  do 
what  they  could  towards  winning  the  Irocjuois  over  from  the 
support  of  the  English.* 

But  it  is  not  within  the  scope  of  our  narrative  to  set  forth 
the  important  part  which  the  savages  took  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  Confining  myself  to  the  war  on  the  borders — the 
result,  in  almost  every  instance,  of  the  encroachments  and 
insolence  of  English  and  American  settlers — we  will  follow  its 
desolating  train  as  it  retreats  before  the  power  of  civilization 

*  Stone's  Works— Spark's  Washington. 


I!   .  I 


OK,   tllK   BUKDKK   WAMI  OT  TWO  (.KMTUKJKH. 


106 


bojond  tlip  Hocky  MountiiitiH  tiiul  Into  tliu  tiir  WkhI.  Yot,  how- 
over,  Hotnu  of  thu  tiioHt  MimmIv  Htni^^lt'H  of  tlio  lixliHtiri  ugniiist 
th«  oiiHtit  of  civilizHtioii,  «>f  which  w«  hiivu  next  to  trnit,  wor«?, 
in  n>;rutit  inenHuru,  cotiHo<{iiui)t  upon  tho  war  of  tliu  Itovolution. 
Tlio  Huvn^uM  ha<l,  to  a  gruut  oxtvnt,  bfttn  t'ligu^tMl  <tn  thu  Hi(h* 
of  Kii^land,  und  in  n7i\  nu»Ht  of  t\wu\  wvre  ri'^rirde*!  hy  tht» 
cnloiilHtrt  M  boing  onpi^ud  in  thi^  war.  Thu  natioiiM  n«>aruHt  thu 
AiiiiTicunH,  and,  piirliupH,  intcrcHtod  in  thuir  hnlialf,  found 
tlit'iiiHi-lvog  prcHMHl  upon  and  harraHHud  hy  th(^  more  dintant 
baiK^K,  and  through  tho  wholo  wintor  of  177«r  7,  rutnorn  were 
flying  alon^  tl>c  frontiern  of  Virginia  an<l  I^!nnhylvania  of 
approaching  trouhlcH.  Nor  wer«  the  |)eopU5  of  New  York  \e%» 
fearful.  Ahxig  the  Mohawk  and  up[H)r  8uri<|uehanna  the  «et- 
tlerH  were  standing  in  coiiHtant  dread.*  However,  tlio  winter 
and  Hpring  of  1777  pasued  without  an  outbreak.  At  length 
tho  blow  was  struck.  It  was  brought  on  by  the  murder  of 
Cornstalk,  tho  heading  chief  of  the  Shawanoes,  of  the  Scioto. 
This  truly  great  man,  who  was  liimnelf  for  peace,  but  who  found 
all  his  neighbors,  and  even  those  of  his  own  tribe  stirred  up  to 
war  by  the  agents  of  England,  went  over  to  the  American  fort 
at  Point  Pleasant,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Groat  Kanawha  in  order 
tu  discuss  tho  situation  with  Capt.  Arbucklc,  the  commandant. 
Tlii«  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  summer  of  1777.  The  Ajiier- 
icans,  being  aware  that  the  Shawanoes  liad  taken  up  arms  for 
England,  decided  to  retain  Cornstalk  and  Uedhawk,  a  young 
chief  of  note,  who  was  with  him,  and  make  them  hostages  for 
the  good  conduct  of  their  people.  The  old  warrior,  accordingly, 
after  he  had  finished  his  statement  of  the  position  lie  was  in, 
and  the  necessity  under  wliich  he  and  his  friends  would  be 
of  joining  in  with  the  popular  voice  of  his  people  unless  the 
Americans  would  guarantee  protection,  found  that  in  seeking 
council  and  safety,  he  had  walked  into  a  snare  and  was  secure 
there.  However  he  did  not  com[)lain  but  waited  the  result 
with  great  composure.f  On  the  following  day  EUinipsco,  the 
son  of  Cornstalk,  came  to  the  fort  and  was  also  made  prisoner. 


•  Doddridge's  Indian  Wars— Stone's  Wr)rk8. 
t  Withers'  Border  Warfare. 


\M 


TIIK    MVKM   OK    l^ltniAO    AND  TKtM'MNKIi: 


The  tlirot^  ti(it(*(|  ItidiunM  now  Mat  down  ciiliiily  und  wHitrd  the 
coiinio  of  uvontii.  Tli(*y  hnd  not  lN>«n  contltiiHl  hut  tlir(<<^  dityi 
wlion  two  Hnviif^it  in  tlit)  ni*i^hl)orhoo<i,  unkiutwn  to  tlu^  wliifcn, 
Mliot  n  whitu  Imntur  towurdH  ovunin^.  ItiHtu'itly  tlut  tVicniU 
of  thu  iniirdurcd  iiiitn  ditrlurffl  their  .iit«*ntion  of  killing;  the 
thruo  chiefrt  within  th(>  fort.  Tho  coininiiiKhint  rndnivort'd  to 
pr«v»!nt  thiMM,  hut  thi\v  w«'r«  too  furioun  to  lintiMi  to  hirt  wordn, 
nn<l  hiii  «»wn  lifo  whk  thn>Htt>n<M|.  'Wwy  ruHhud  to  thu  h'Mue 
whcru  tiu>  euptivt'H  were  contlnud.  <  oriiHtiilk  met  thutn  iit  thi> 
untrunco  hut  fell  pii'rcvd  with  m'\v,\  hulU>trt.  IJiHHon  iitid  Uiij. 
hawk  Rhared  hit*  futo.  "  Front  that  hour,**  unyti  Dmldridge, 
"peace  wan  in)t  to  he  hoped  for." 

Meanwhile  throu^^hout  the  Deattered  rietth^mentR  of  Ken- 
tucky, Indian  horttilitiutt  had  heen  raging,  hut  I  have  no  npace 
for  the  detaiirt  of  th(<i»e.  At  tiinoM  the  ntatiouH  were  aisHiiiled 
by  UiVfj^M  hodieH  of  tiavagCH,  and  aj^ain  ninn^le  KettlerH  wore 
picked  ort'  hy  Hkulkin^  warriorH.  The  nuinherrt  of  the  H«'ttlerK 
became  fewer  and  fewer,  and  from  the  cdder  HettU'ineuts  litllf 
or  no  aid  camt!  to  the  frontier  HtatiotiH,  until  ('ol.  Ilowman,  in 
AuguHt,  1777,  came  from  Virginia  with  oiu'  hun<lred  iiicti. 
Thirt,  aH  the  reader  will  remember,  wa«  a  period  of  great  diritress 
througlutut  all  the  colunien,  but  of  itourtte  none  Huttercd  more, 
or  evinced  more  courage  and  fortitude,  than  the  Hcttlers  of  the 
West.  On  the  other  hand,  these  men  bore  an  important  bunion 
of  the  war  for  indepcndeiu'c.  What  might  have  become  of  tlie 
reaiHtance  of  the  colonies  had  Knglaml  been  allowed  to  pour 
her  troops  upon  the  rear  of  the  Americans,  through  Canada, 
jiBsisted  as  they  would  have  been  by  all  the  Indian  tribes?  No 
doubt  the  contest  before  the  stations  of  Kentucky  and  ('lark'8 
bold  incursions  into  Illinois,  and  against  Vincennes,  had  much 
to  do  in  deciding  the  fortunes  of  the  great  struggle. 


^^ 


•  Western  Ai 


(MIAI'TKK     XX 


TiiK  (^ONQUKHT  or  li.i.ii«()iH  — CoLONRi.  Ororok   Uookhh  (7|.AHK  — Hit 

KXPKDITION  AOAI>ttT  TIIK  ToMTM  IN  Il.l.lNOIH  ~  A  |{|.0()l)l,KMII  ('ON* 
gi!KIT  — 8lNOUI.AU  HTUATACtKM  -  CULUNKL  Ci.AUK'M  HfKKCU  TU  TUB 
INDIANH—  iNTKHKHTrHO    iNriDKNTII. 

TiiK  pioneorH  of  thn  woHt,  ulthoii^h  surroiiiuhxl  by  thoito 
dnn^cra  and  ilitHnulti'^H  in  1777,  huld  fuHt  to  thvir  purpoHUH.  In 
the  utituinn  of  this  year  tlio  ucttlorin  of  Kentucky  Ix^gun  to 
orjjanizo,  and  Geor^o  Rogers  Clark,  her  cliiof  npirit,  ho  that 
had  reprcBonted  her  hoyond  tlio  niountuinH  the  year  before,  wa« 
meditating  a  trip  to  Williainshurg,  for  the  purpoHo  of  urging 
a  holfier  and  more  decided  ineaHure  than  any  yet  propoHed.  lie 
understood  the  whole  game  of  the  Hritihh.**  He  saw  that  it 
was  through  their  possession  of  Detroit,  VinconncH,  Kaskaskia, 
and  the  other  western  posts,  which  gave  them  easy  and  constant 
access  to  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  northwest,  that  the  Hritish 
hoped  to  effect  such  a  union  of  tiie  wild  men  as  would  annihiU 
Bto  the  frontier  fortresses.  He  knew  that  the  Delawares  were 
divided  in  feeling,  and  the  Shawanoes  but  imperfectly  united 
in  favor  of  Englan<l  ever  since  the  murder  of  Cornstalk.  He 
was  convinced  that  could  the  British  in  the  northwest  be 
defeated  and  expelled,  the  natives  might  be  easily  awed  or 
bribed  into  neutrality  ;  and  by  spies  sent  for  the  purpose,  and 
who  wore  absent  from  the  twentieth  of  April  till  the  twenty- 
second  of  June,  he  had  satisfied  himself  that  an  enterprise 
against  the  Illinois  settlements  might  easily  succeed. 

George  Rogers  Clark,  whose  portrait  appears  on  another 
page,  was  tndy  the  founder  of  Kentucky,  and  the  most  emi- 
nent of  the  early  settlers  of  the  west.  He  was  born  November 
19th,  1752,  in  Albemarle  county,  Virginia,  f    In  early  life  he 


*  Western  Annals. 


f  Clark's  Papers. 

(187) 


m 


us 


THE   IJVK8  OF   WNTIAO   AND  •nOl^UM8KH: 


^h 


bad  been,  like  Waebington,  a  surveyor,  and  more  lately  hud 
served  in  Dunniore's  war.  He  first  visited  Kentucky  in  1775, 
and  beld  apparently  at  that  time  tbe  rank  of  major.  ReUirning 
to  Yirfjinia  in  tbe  autumn  of  1775,  be  ])repared  to  move  per- 
manently to  tbe  west  in  tbe  following  spring.  Having  done 
this  eai'ly  in  177(),  Clark,  wbose  views  reacbed  mucb  fartber  than 
those  of  most  of  tbe  pioneers,  set  himself  seriously  to  consider 
the  condition  and  prospects  of  the  young  republic  to  which  he 
had  attached  bis  life  and  fortune. 

As  we  have  seen,  be  was  now  preparing  to  move  against  the 
British  posts  in  the  west;  and  accordingly,  on  the  first  of  Oc- 
tober, 1777,  he  left  llarrodsburg,  Kentucky,  and  reacbed  the 
capital  of  Virginia  on  the  fifth  of  November.  Telling  no  one 
of  his  ptirpose,  he  diligently  watched  the  state  of  feeling  among 
those  in  power,  waiting  for  the  proper  moment  to  present  his 
plan.  Fortunately,  before  bis  arrival  Burgoyne  had  surren- 
dered, which  animated  tbe  Americans  with  new  hope.  On  the 
tenth  of  December  Colonel  Clark  presented  his  scheme  to 
Patrick  Henry,  who  was  still  governor.  Henry  received  the 
idea  with  favor.  Already  the  necessity  of  securing  possession 
of  the  western  outposts  had  been  presented  to  Congress,  and 
many  events  that  had  taken  place  on  the  frontier  combined  to 
urge  tbe  expediency  of  tbe  plan.  Clark  having  satisfied  the 
Virginia  leaders  of  the  feasibility  of  his  plan,  received,  on  the 
second  of  January,  1778,  two  sets  of  instructions  —  the  public 
one  authorizing  him  to  enlist  seven  companies  to  go  to  Ken- 
tucky, subject  to  bis  orders,  and  to  serve  for  three  months  from 
their  arrival  in  the  west ;  tbe  secret  orders  provided  for  the 
expedition  against  Kaskaskia,  the  British  post  in  Illinois.* 


*  "Virginia:  Sbcrbt.  In  Council  —  Williamsburg,  January  a,  1778.  Llout.  Colonel 
George  R.  Clark :  You  are  to  proceed,  with  all  convenient  fpood,  to  raise  oevon  conipauies 
of  soldiers,  to  consist  of  Afty  men  each,  officered  in  the  usual  uianner.  and  armed  moat 
properly  for  the  enterprise,  and  with  this  force  attack  the  British  force  at  Kaskasky. 

"  It  is  conjectured  that  there  are  many  pieces  of  cannon  and  military  Htores  to  consider- 
able amount  at  that  place,  the  taking  and  preservation  of  which  would  be  a  valuable 
acqiisltion  to  the  State.  If  you  are  so  fortunate,  therefore,  as  to  succeed  in  your  expedi- 
tion, you  will  take  every  possible  measure  to  secure  the  artillery  and  stores,  and  whatever 
may  advantage  the  State. 

"For  the  transportation  of  the  troops,  provisions,  etc.,  down  the  Ohio,  you  are  to  apply 
to  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Pitt  for  boats;  and  during  the  whole  transaction  yon 
are  to  toke  especial  care  to  keep  the  true  destination  of  your  force  secret.    ItSBUCcesB 


OR,   THE    BORDKR    WARS   OF   TWO  OKNTDRIES. 


16& 


With  these  instructions  and  twelve  hundred  pounds  in  the 
depreciated  currency  of  the  time,  Colonel  Clark  started  for 
Fort  Pitt,  As  the  country  was  in  need  of  all  the  soldiers  that 
could  be  mustered  east  of  the  Alle^hanies,  Clark  therefore  pro- 
posed to  raise  his  men  in  the  neip^hborhood  of  Fort  Pitt,  while, 
for  the  purpose  of  hurrying  up  the  enlistments,  Major  "W.  B. 
Smith  went  to  Holston,  and  other  officers  to  other  points.  They 
did  not  succeed,  however,  as  they  had  hoped  to.  At  Fort  Pitt 
Clark  found  the  people  unwilling  to  forsake  their  own  homes, 
which  were  in  imminent  danger,  to  defend  Kentucky.  At 
length  Clark,  with  three  or  four  companies,  which  was  all  he 
could  raise,  descended  the  Ohio,  which  he  navigated  as  far  as 
the  falls,  where  he  took  possession  of  and  fortified  Corn  Island, 
opposite  the  sight  of  the  present  city  of  Louisville.  At  this 
place  Colonel  Bowman  was  to  meet  him  with  additional  troops. 
At  this  point  he  told  his  army  their  real  mission.  Having 
waited  until  his  arrangements  were  all  completed,  he  departed 
on  the  twenty -fourth  of  June,  and  descended  the  river.  His 
plan  was  to  follow  the  Ohio  down  as  far  as  Fort  Massac,  and 
thence  to  go  by  land  direct  to  Kaskaskia.     But  little  .baggage 


depcndfl  npon  this.  Orders  are  therefore  given  to  Captain  Smitti  to  secure  tliu  two  men 
from  Kaeknsky.    Similar  conduct  will  bo  proper  in  similar  cases. 

"  It  Is  earnestly  desired  tljat  you  show  humanity  to  such  British  subjects  and  other  per- 
sons as  fall  in  your  hands.  If  the  white  inhabitants  at  that  post  and  ncii;hborhood  will 
give  undoubted  evidence  of  their  attachment  to  this  State  (for  it  is  certain  they  live  within 
its  limits),  by  talking  the  test  prescribed  by  law,  and  by  every  other  way  and  means  in  their 
power,  let  them  be  treated  as  fellow  citl/ens,  and  their  persons  and  property  duly  secured. 
Assistance  and  protection  against  all  enemies  whatever  shall  be  afforded  them,  and  the 
Commonwealth  of  Virginia  is  pledged  to  accomplish  it.  But  if  these  people  will  not 
accede  to  these  reasonable  demands,  they  must  feel  the  miseries  of  war  under  the  direc- 
tion of  that  humanity  that  has  hitherto  distinguished  Americans,  and  which  it  is  expected 
you  will  ever  consider  as  the  rule  of  your  conduct,  and  from  which  you  are  in  no  instance 
to  depart. 

"  The  corps  you  are  to  command  are  to  receive  the  pay  and  allowance  of  militia,  and  to 
act  under  the  laws  and  regulations  of  this  State  now  in  force,  as  militia.  The  Inhabitants 
at  this  post  will  bo  informed  by  you,  that  in  case  they  accede  to  the  offers  of  becoming 
cltl/ens  of  this  Commonwealth,  a  proper  garrison  will  be  maintained  among  them,  and 
every  attention  bestowed  to  render  their  commerce  bcueflcial,  the  fairest  prospects  being 
opened  to  the  dominions  of  both  Prance  and  Spain. 

"  It  is  In  contemplation  to  establish  a  post  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  Cannon  will 
be  wanted  to  fortify  it.  Part  of  those  at  Kaskasky  will  be  easily  brought  thither,  or  other- 
wise secnred,  as  circumstances  will  make  necessary. 

"  You  are  to  apply  to  General  Hand,  at  Pittsburgh,  for  powder  and  lead  necessary  for 
this  expedition.  If  he  can't  supply  it,  the  person  who  has  that  which  Captain  Lynn 
brought  from  New  Orleans  can.  Lead  was  sent  to  Hampshire  by  my  orders,  and  that  may 
be  delivered  you.    Wishing  you  success,  I  am,  sir,  your  humble  servant,     P.  HENRY." 


160 


TIIK    rJVh-S   OK    IH)NTrA<i    AND    TKi'l'MSKII 


wa«  taken.  He  depended  tor  success  entirely  upon  surprise. 
Should  he  tiiil,  he  intended  to  cross  the  Mississippi  and  escape 
into  the  Spanish  settlements.  Before  he  commenced  his  march 
he  received  two  pieces  of  information  of  which  he  made  good 
use  at  the  proper  time,  by  means  of  which  he  conquered  the 
west  without  bloodshed.  One  of  these  important  items  was 
the  alliance  of  France  with  the  colonies.  This  at  once  made 
the  American  side  popular  with  the  French  and  Indians  of 
Illinois  and  the  lakes  ,  France  having  never  lost  her  hold  upon 
her  ancient  subjects  and  allies,  and  England  having  never 
secured  their  confidence.  The  other  item  was  tlvat  the  inhabit- 
ants  of  Kaskaskia  and  other  old  towns  had  been  led  by  the 
liritish  to  believe  that  the  "Long  Knives"  or  Virginians  were 
the  most  tierce,  cruel  and  blood-thirsty  savages  that  ever  scalped 
a  foe.  With  this  impression  on  their  minds  Clark  saw  that 
proper  conduct  would  readily  force  them  to  submit  from  fear, 
if  surprised,  and  then  to  become  friendly  from  gratitude  when 
treated  witli  unexpected  kindness. 

After  some  time  the  party  landed  at  Fort  Massac,  and 
secured  their  boats  in  the  mouth  of  a  small  creek.  From  tills 
point  their  route  lay  through  a  wilderness  without  a  path  a 
distance  of  over  one  hundred  miles.  After  a  tedious  journey 
they  approached,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1778,  near  the  town, 
and  secreted  themselves  among  the  hills  east  of  the  Kaskaskia 
river.  Colonel  Clark  sent  forward  his  spies  to  watch  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  people,  and  after  dark  put  his  troops  in  motion 
and  took  possession  of  a  house,  where  a  family  lived,  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  above  the  town.  Here  they  found 
boats  and  canoes.  The  troops  were  divided  into  three  parties, 
two  of  which  were  ordered  to  cross  the  river,  while  the  other, 
Tinder  the  immediate  command  of  Col.  Clark,  took  possession 
of  the  fort.  Kaskaskia  then  contained  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  houses.  Persons  who  could  speak  the  French  language 
were  ordered  to  pass  through  the  streets  and  make  proclama- 
tion, that  all  the  inhabitants  must  keep  within  their  houses, 
under  penalty  of  being  shot  down  in  the  streets.  The  few 
British  oiiicers,  who  had  visited  these  French  colonies  since  the 
commencement  of  the  rebellion  of  their  Atlantic  colonies,  as 


GEN.  GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARK. 


Ol 


thoy  termed 

stories  about 

that  they  wo 

would  butclu 

cliildren  I     1 

minds  of  tlie 

apprehension 

fill  and  be  pi 

attempt  be  tni 

Btimiilus  to  1 

guns,  aminui 

tions  on  the 

Clark  had 

them  says:    * 

fortunate  enoi 

cieved  the  grc 

more  sensibly 

valuable  fnen( 

Clark's  plai 

then  to  captui 

ity,  he  accomj 

The  two  pa 

and  unsuspect 

furious  mann 

Fn;.ch,   ordei 

instant  death. 

long  Couteam 

long  knives! 

Not  more  tl 
the  inhabitant 
their  eonqnero 
complete.  M. 
in  his  chamb 
either  conceal 
whole  of  the  f 
the  streets,  y( 
This  was  a  par 

•  Peck's  narrat 
11 


OK,   THE    UOKDEK    WAK8   OK   TWO   OKNTUKrKH. 


161 


thoy  termed  the  Revolution,  had  told  the  most  exaggerated 
stories  about  the  brutality  and  ferocity  of  the  "  Long-Knives;" 
that  they  would  not  «>nly  take  the  property  of  the  people,  but 
would  butcher,  in  a  most  horrible  manner,  men,  women  and 
children  !  Tiie  policy  of  tliese  stories  was  to  excite  in  the 
minds  of  these  simple-hearted  French  people  the  most  fearful 
apprehensionn  against  the  colonists,  that  they  might  be  watch- 
ful and  be  prepared  for  a  determined  resistance,  should  any 
attempt  be  made  on  these  remote  posts.  These  stories  were  a 
stimulus  to  the  French  traders  to  supply  the  Indians  with 
guns,  ammunition  and  scalping-knives,  to  aid  their  depreda- 
tions on  the  settlements  of  Kentucky.^ 

Clark  had  possessed  himself  of  these  facts,  and  respecting 
them  says:  *'  I  was  determined  to  improve  upon  this,  if  I  was 
fortunate  enough  to  get  them  into  my  possession ;  as  I  con- 
cieved  the  greater  the  shock  1  could  give  them  at  first,  the 
more  sensibly  they  would  feel  my  lenity,  and  become  more 
valuable  friends." 

Clark's  plan  was  to  produce  a  terrible  panic  in  the  town,  and 
then  to  capture  it  without  bloodshed,  and  with  his  keen  sagac- 
ity, he  accomplished  it  in  a  perfect  manner. 

The  two  parties  having  crossed  the  river,  entered  the  quiet 
and  unsuspecting  village  at  both  extremes,  yelling  in  the  most 
furious  manner,  while  those  who  made  the  proclamation  in 
FrtJ.ch,  ordered  the  people  into  their  houses,  on  pain  of 
instant  death.  In  a  few  moments  all  were  screaming,  "  Ze« 
lojig  Couteaux!  lea  long  Couteaux/" —  the  long  knives  1  the 
long  knives! 

Not  more  than  half  an  hour  after  the  surprise  of  the  town, 
the  inhabitants  all  surrendered  and  delivered  up  their  arms  to 
their  conqueror.  No  blood  had  been  shed,  yet  the  victory  was 
complete.  M.  Rocheblave,  the  governor  of  the  place,  was  taken 
in  his  chamber,  but  his  public  papers  and  documents  were 
either  concealed  or  destroyed  by  his  wife.  Throughout  the 
whole  of  the  following  night  the  troops  marched  up  and  down 
the  streets,  yelling  and  whooping  after  the  Indian  fashion. 
This  was  a  part  of  Colonel  Clark's  plan  to  terrify  the  inhabit- 

•  Peck's  narrative. 

n 


162 


rilK    lA\h'»   OK    I'ONTIAC    AND   TK< DMMKIi: 


ants.  Iiulecd,  he  tuok  every  posHible  nieuHure  to  raiHo  the 
t'eurB  of  the  people.  The  town  wiis  hi  posHUHHioti  of  uu  eDiiny 
the  inhuhitantH  had  been  taiij^ht  were  the  tno8t  ferocious  and 
brutal  of  all  men,  and  of  wiioui  they  entertained  the  nioHt 
horrible  apprehensions,  and  all  intercourse  was  strictly  pro- 
hibited  between  each  other,  and  the  conquerors.  After  Hve 
days  the  troops  were  removed  to  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  iind 
the  citizens  were  permikte<l  to  walk  in  the  fitreets.  But  tiD'ling 
them  engaged  in  conversation,  one  with  another.  Col.  Clark 
ordered  some  of  the  officers  to  bo  put  in  irons,  without  assij,'!!- 
ing  a  single  reason,  or  permitting  a  word  of  defense.  Tliie 
singular  display  of  despotic  power  in  the  conqueror,  did  not 
spring  from  a  cruel  disposition,  t)r  a  disregard  to  the  princij)lt!i 
of  liberty,  but  it  was  the  course  of  policy  he  had  marked  out 
to  gain  his  object. 

At  length  M.  Gibault,  tlie  parish  priest,  got  permissioii  to 
wait  on  Co\.  Clark.  He  was  accompanied  by  several  of  the 
ehlerly  inhabitants  of  the  place.  When  they  came  into  the 
presence  of  Clark  and  his  soldiers,  they  were  shocked  at  their 
untidy  personal  appearance.  Their  clothes  were  dirty  and 
torn,  their  beards  of  four  weeks'  growth,  and  they  looked  m 
frightful  as  native  warriors.  Finally,  the  priest,  in  a  very 
submissive  tone  and  posture,  remarked  that  the  inhabitants 
expected  to  be  separated  perhaps  never  to  meet  again,  and  they 
begged  through  him,  as  a  great  favor  from  their  conqueror,  to 
be  permitted  to  assemble  in  the  church,  offer  up  their  prayers 
to  God  for  their  souls,  and  take  leave  of  each  other! 

Colonel  Clark  I'eplied  carelessly,  saying  that  the  Americans 
did  not  trouble  themselves  about  the  religion  of  others,  bnt 
left  every  man  to  worship  God  as  he  pleased;  that  they  niij^ht 
go  to  church  if  they  pleased,  but  on  no  account  must  a  single 
person  leave  the  town.  Thus  saying,  the  C^olonel  dismissed 
them  abruptly,  hoping  to  raise  their  alarm  to  the  highest  pitch. 

The  priest  and  the  Frenchmen  hurried  away  and  in  a  few 
hours  the  whole  population  assembled  in  the  church,  where,  as 
for  the  last  time,  they  mournfully  chanted  their  prayers  and 
bid  each  other  farewell,  "  never  expecting  to  meet  again  in 
this  world."     After  the  service,  the  priest  and  the  old  men  of 


OR,    TIIU    UORDKR    WARM   0|i'   TWO   ('KNTUUIKS. 


168 


the  town  returned  tu  the  lietidquartorB  of  the  conqueror  and 
be^im  to  plead  in  helialf  of  their  lives.  Tiiey  were  willing  to 
give  up  all  their  property,  but  asked  for  sutticient  clothing  for 
their  preaent  requirenientH,  and  prayed  that  they  might  not 
be  8C])arated  from  their  families. 

Clark  having  now  fully  accomplished  his  purpose,  addresned 
them  the  following  reply: 

"  Who  do  you  take  me  to  be?  Do  you  think  we  are  wav- 
A^e» — that  we  intend  to  massacre  you  all?  Do  you  think 
Americans  will  strip  women  and  children,  and  take  the  bread 
out  of  their  mouths?  My  countrymen,"  said  the  gallant 
Oolouel,  •'  never  make  war  upon  the  innocent !  It  was  to 
protect  our  own  wives  and  children  that  we  have  penetrated 
this  wilderness,  to  subdue  these  British  posts,  from  whence  the 
savages  are  supplietl  with  arms  and  ammunition  to  murder  us. 
We  do  not  war  against  Frenchmen.  The  King  of  France,  your 
former  master,  is  our  ally.  His  ships  and  soldiers  are  fighting 
for  the  Americans.  The  French  are  our  firm  friends,  (ro, 
and  enjoy  your  religion  and  worship  when  you  please.  Retain 
your  property  —  and  now  please  to  inform  all  your  citizens 
for  me  that  they  are  quite  at  liberty  to  conduct  themselves 
as  usual,  and  dismiss  all  apprehensions  of  alarm.  We  are  your 
friends  and  come  to  deliver  you  from  the  British." 

The  reader  will  hardly  be  able  to  imagine  the  sudden  revul- 
sion of  feeling  which  this  reply  produced.  In  a  few  moments 
the  news  had  been  communicated  to  all  within  the  town,  and 
now  the  bells  rang  out  merrily.  The  people,  headed  by  the 
priest,  again  repaired  to  the  little  church,  where  the  Te  Devm 
was  loudly  sung.  All  now  cheerfully  acknowledged  Col.  Clark 
as  commandant  of  the  country. 

An  expedition  was  next  formed  against  Cahokia,  and  Major 
Bowman,  with  his  detachment  mounted  on  French  ponies,  was 
ordered  to  surprise  that  post.  Several  Kaskaskia  gentlemen 
offered  their  services  to  proceed  ahead,  notify  the  Cahokians 
of  the  change  of  government,  and  prepare  them  to  give  the 
Americans  a  cordial  reception.  The  plan  was  entirely  success- 
fal,  and  the  post  was  subjugated  without  the  disaster  of  a 


164 


TIIK    IIVIX   OK    IH>NTIAr    ANI»  TKCIMKKII 


battle.  Tndoed,  tluTo  wore  not  n  lUr/.vu  KritiHli  HoUlierH  in  the 
^rriHon. 

TlicHP  cunninfi^  Virf^lnlanH.  in  their  talk  with  the  towni. 
people,  reprewentetl  that  a  lar/(o  nrniy  waH  encanipe<l  at  the 
i'nllH  of  the  Ohio,  which  woukl  soon  suhjugate  all  the  British 
poHtH  in  the  "West,  and  that  Post  Vincent  would  he  invaded  hya 
dct4ichnu>nt  from  that  army.  He  soon  learned  from  the  French 
that  Ahhott,  the  ('ommandant  of  that  ]><>Ht,  had  fj^one  to  Detroit 
and  that  the  defense  of  the  plaeo  was  left  with  the  citizcim, 
who  were  moBtly  French.  M.  CJihalt  readily  undertook  the 
task  of  hrinpfin^  the  iidiahitants  of  that  place  over  to  the 
Americans,  which  he  accomplislied  without  the  aid  of  a  mili. 
tary  force,  and  now  the  American  fla^  was  raised  above  the 
fort,  and  Capt.  Helm  appointed  to  the  command,  much  to  the 
disgust  of  the  nei<j;h boring  savages. 

The  three  months  term  on  which  the  soldier^  had  enlisted 
now  expired,  but  Col.  Clark,  determined  not  to  leave  the 
country  half  conquered,  o])ened  a  new  enlistment.  lie  also 
issued  commissions  for  French  officers  in  the  country  to  corn- 
mand  a  company  of  the  inhabitants. 

A  garrison  was  next  established  at  Cohokia,  commanded  hv 
Oapt.  Bowman,  and  another  at  Kaskaskia,  comnuuided  hy 
Capt.  Williams.  As  we  have  seen  Capt.  Helm  had  been  a|)- 
pointcd  to  the  command  at  Fort  Vincent.  Everywhere  through- 
out Illinois  the  French  enlisted  themselves  warmly  in  the 
support  of  the  Americans.  The  French  Governor,  M.  Roche- 
blavc,  was  conducted  to  Virginia  a  prisoner  of  war. 

Soon  after  the  House  of  Burgesses  of  Virginia  created  the 
county  of  Illinois*  and  appointed  John  Todd,  Esq.,  then  of 

•The  act  containcdtho  followlug  provlglong:  "All  the  citizens  of  the  Cdinmonwcslth 
of  Virginia,  who  urc  already  settled,  or  shall  horcnftor  settle,  on  the  western  »ld<i  of  tht 
Ohio,  Hhall  be  included  in  a  distinct  county  which  shall  bo  culled  IllinoU  county;  and 
the  Governor  of  this  Conmionweolth,  with  tho  advice  of  the  Council,  may  appiiint  a 
county  Lieutenant,  or  Commander-in-Chief,  in  that  county,  during  pleasure,  who  shall 
appoint  and  coninilRHlon  so  many  deputy  conunnndnnlH,  militia  and  officers,  and  com- 
missarics,  as  he  shall  think  proper,  in  the  dlfTcrent  districts,  during  pleasure,  hII  of 
whom,  before  they  enter  Into  office,  shall  take  the  oath  of  Qdclity  to  this  Common- 
wealth, and  the  onth  of  office,  according  to  the  form  of  their  own  religion.  And  all 
civil  oflScers  to  which  the  inhabitants  have  been  accustomed,  necessary  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  peace  and  the  administration  of  Justice,  shall  bo  chosen  by  a  miOority  of 
cittzens  in  their  respective  districts,  to  bo  convened  for  that  purpose,  by  tho  count; 
Lientenant  or  Commandant,  or  his  deputy,  and  aball  bo  commisaioned  by  the  said 
eoanty  Lientenant  or  Commander-in-Chief. " 


OR,   TIIR    BORDER   WAR*  OV  TWO  ORNTnRIKII. 


106 


Kentucky,  lioutonant  colonol  and  civil  ooinriiandant.  In  No- 
voiiilx^r  tliu  Ix>f(!Hlutiiro  pasHvd  a  coinplitiiLMitary  resolution  to 
Clark  and  hitt  inuii  for  thu  valuable  Horviut^H  riMidorud  rn  Hubdu- 
ing  tlu)  HritiHli  outpootH. 

Atttjr  orfi^anixin^  a  civil  j^ovcrninent  and  providlnpj  for  an 
uluction  of  nia^iHtratCH  by  tlio  people,  VaA.  ('lark  (lirc(;tu<l  Iuh 
attention  to  thu  Hubjii^^ation  of  the  Indian  tribcH.  In  tluH  he 
ultio  (liK|)layed  ^reat  ability,  [t  haH  been  Haid  that  no  com- 
tnundcr  ever  Kubdned  aH  many  warlike  tribes  in  ho  Hhort  a  time 
Hiid  at  HO  little  expcnue  of  life.  Ilin  meetingH  with  them  be^an 
at  ('iihokia  in  September,  177«,  and  \m  principlctt  of  action 
lire  worlliy  of  comment.  He  never  loaded  them  with  presents; 
never  irumifeBted  any  fear  of  them,  yet  he  alwayn  reKpectted 
their  conra^e  and  ability.  He  always  waited  for  them  to  make 
the  lirst  advance  of  peace,  and  after  they  had  concluded  their 
speeches  and  thrown  away  the  bloody  wamptim  sent  them  by 
tlie  Knglish,  Clark  would  coldly  toll  them  that  he  would  give 
tlieni  an  answer  on  the  following  day,  but  at  the  same  time 
ctuitioned  them  against  shaking  hands  with  the  Anutricans,  as 
j)eftce  was  not  yet  concluded  Tlie  next  day  the  Indians  would 
come  to  hear  the  answ.i  y  ^  the  "  Uig  Knife,"  as  they  called 
Col.  Clark,  which  they  i.iways  found  full  of  decision  and 
firmness. 

The  following  tc  ♦ho  speech  he  delivered  to  the  tribes  who 
sued  for  ]>eace  at  the  Council  of  Cahokia: 

"Men  nnd  Warriors:  piiy  attention  to  ray  words.  You  informed  me 
yusti'riluy,ttiatthc  Great  Spirit  liad  brought  us  togetlier,  and  tliat  you  lioped 
timt  us  lie  was  good,  it  would  be  for  good.  I  liavo  also  the  same  hope,  and 
expect  that  each  party  will  strictly  adhere  to  whatever  niiiy  be  a^'reed 
upon,  whether  it  shall  be  peace  or  war,  and  henceforward,  prove  ourselves 
wortliy  of  the  attention  of  the  Great  Spirit.  I  am  a  man  and  a  warrior, 
not  a  counseller ;  I  carry  war  in  my  right  hand,  and  in  my  left,  peace.  I 
am  sent  by  the  Great  Council  of  the  Big  Knife,  and  their  friends,  to  take 
possession  of  all  the  towns  possessed  by  the  English  in  this  country,  and 
to  watch  the  motions  of  the  red  people;  to  bloody  the  paths  of  tlioso  wlio 
ikttciiipt  to  stop  the  course  of  the  river ;  but  to  clear  the  roads  for  us  to  tho.se 
'vliat  desire  to  be  in  peace ;  Mint  the  women  and  children  may  walk  in  thorn 
without  meeting  anything  to  strike  their  feet  against.  I  am  ordered  to 
caII  upon  the  Great  Fire  for  warriors  enough  to  darken  the  land,  and  that 
the  red  people  may  hear  no  sound,  but  of  birds  who  live  on  blood.    I  know 


i  I 


166 


TirK   I.IVKH   OK    fONTMr    AND  TK<!|  MRKII! 


there  Im  «  iiilHr  bcl'drf  your  oyoM;  I  will  diipi'l  tlir  rlrnidx,  Hint  you  may 
clearly  4u«)  tli«<  ctkiu«m  ol'  tli**  WMr  b<!twc«*n  tlui  lUg  Kiiil't*  itiul  tho  Eoffliglii 
thvn  you  inny  JudKo  'or  yourHiilvvH,  wlilcli  party  In  Id  tlitt  right;  and  If 
you  nrv  wiirrlora,  iw  you  pri>li«tM  yourm>iv«*H  to  !)(>,  provti  It  by  KilhorlDf 
faitlil\illy  t4i  the  party,  which  you  iihall  b«>llnvc  to  !)«<  ontltli^cl  to  your 
IVk'ndHhlp,  and  not  ithow  youriudv«)H  to  b«  MquawN. 

"Tito  HIk  Knlt'ti  In  vit)  niurli  likn  the*  rod  proplr,  they  don't  know  huw 
tu  tUHkti  blankftM,  und  powder,  and  cloth;  thiiy  buy  tli«!M«*  thIngH  from  thi 
EnxlUh,  tVout  whom  they  an'  itprung.  Th«'y  llvr  by  making  corn,  hunt- 
ing and  tradu,  um  you  and  your  nolghborH,  tho  Krench,  do  litit  the  Hi^r 
Knife,  dally  KuttinK  nion*  num<>rnuH,  llko  thi>  trcoN  in  the  woodM,  the  liitnl 
b<!camc  poor,  and  tint  hunthiK  Hcarc*;;  and  havhiK  but  lltlli*  to  trade  with, 
the  women  Ix'uian  to  cry  at  Hcclntf  thoir  (tliildrcn  nak<Ml,  and  irlml  to  li>iirn 
how  to  make  clothuM  i'or  thcniHAlvoH;  Home  made  bbinkelr*  for  their  liiu. 
bandH  and  children;  and  the  men  learned  to  miike  ^uuh  and  powder  In 
thiH  wuy  we  did  not  want  to  buy  ho  much  tVoni  the  KtiKliHli;  thoy  tlien^^ot 
mad  with  ua,  and  Hetit  Mtron^  garrUonit  throuKh  our  country  (ait  you  »ee 
tlioy  have  done  among  you  on  the  lakeH,  and  among  the  French,)  tlio} 
would  not  lot  our  women  wpln,  nor  <mr  nutn  make  powtler,  nor  let  us  truik 
with  any  body  cIhc.  The  KngllHh  said,  we  Hlioidd  buy  every  tliinir  from 
them,  and  since  wo  had  got  saucy,  we  hIiouUI  i;ive  two  bucks  for  a  blaiiki-t, 
which  we  UHed  to  get  for  one;  we  should  do  as  they  pleaHcd,  and  they  killed 
Borne  of  our  people,  to  make  the  n^Ht  fear  them.  This  Is  the  truth,  ami  the 
mil  caUHO  of  the  war  between  the  English  and  us;  which  did  not  take  place 
for  some  time  after  this  treatment.  Hut  our  women  l)e<M)me  c!old  and  linn 
gry,  and  continued  to  cry;  our  young  men  got  lost  for  want  of  counsel  to 
put  them  In  the  right  path.  The  whole  land  was  d.irk,  the  old  men  lielil 
d(»wn  their  heads  for  shame,  because  they  could  not  see  the  sun,  and  tliiin 
there  wus  mourning  for  many  yiturs  ovttr  the  IdikI.  At  last  the  (irciit 
Spirit  took  pity  on  us,  and  kindled  u  great  counctil  Arc,  that  never  u'ocs 
out,  at  a  place  (tailed  I'hiladelphia;  he  then  stuck  down  a  post,  and  put  a 
war  tomahawk  by  it,  and  went  away.  The  sun  immediately  broke  out,  the 
sky  was  blue  again,  and  the  old  men  held  up  their  heads,  and  asscimhled 
at  the  Are;  they  took  up  the  hatchet,  sharpened  it,  and  put  it  into  the 
liunds  of  our  young  men,  ordering  them  to  strike  the  English  as  loug  ai 
they  could  find  one  on  this  side  of  the  great  waters.  The  young  luea 
immediately  struck  the  war  post,  and  blood  wus  shed ;  in  this  way  the  war 
began,  and  the  English  were  driven  from  one  |)lacc  to  another,  until  they 
got  weak,  and  then  they  hired  you  red  people  to  tiglit  for  them.  The 
Great  Spirit  got  angry  at  this,  and  caused  your  old  Father,  the  French 
King,  and  other  great  nations,  to  Join  the  Big  Knife,  und  flght  with  them 
against  all  their  enemies.  Ho  the  English  have  become  like  a  doer  in  the 
woods;  and  you  may  see  that  it  is  the  Great  Spirit  that  has  caused  your 
waters  to  be  troubled ;  because  you  have  fought  for  the  people  ho  was  mad 
with.  If  your  women  and  children  should  now  cry,  you  must  blame 
yourselves  for  it,  and  not  the  Big  Knife.  You  can  now  Judge  who  is  in 
the  right;  I  liave  already  told  you  who  I  am;  here  is  a  bloody  belt,  andi 


OBf   TIfK    RllRDRR    WARM   OI>    TWO  rKNIUKIKM. 


167 


white  oiiis  titk«  wlilcli  you  |)I<'un«>.  Hifliiivi*  llk<>  iiini,  und  don't  lot  ynur 
licliii;  Hiirroiuidt'il  Ity  tlir  iiiij;  Kiill'c,  I'UUMtt  you  to  tiiki;  U|i  tlit*  one  belt  with 
yoiii'  liitiuU,  while  your  lieitrtM  l:ike  (i|»  rtic  other.  It'  you  take  the  hhxidy 
pKtli,  you  mIihII  lettve  the  town  lu  miftity.niid  uiiiy  ^o  and  Join  your  trIendH, 
till'  KhkII**!);  we  will  then  tiy  like  wiirrlor?<,  who  ciin  put  the  uiohI  Mtumh- 
lintt  hliK'kM  In  viicli  other'M  wiiy,  iinti  keep  our  elothcM  louKeiit  iitiiliied  with 
hliiiid.  Il,  on  the  other  hand,  you  Hhoultl  take  tln'  puth  of  peace,  iind  bo 
received  un  brotherH  to  the  Ml)(  Knife,  with  their  frieihU,  the  French, 
iihiiiild  you  then  lUlen  to  bitd  binU,  that  iiiuy  be  tlylii^  through  the  hind, 
ymi  will  no  |on((er  deHerve  to  be  counted  uh  men  .  but  iim  crciitureH  with 
two  ton^ueii,  thiit  oU)(ht  to  be  dcMtroyetl  without  llMteiilii;r  to  iinylhinK  you 
iniKlit  «iiy.  Am  I  luu  convinced  you  never  heard  the  truth  before,  I  du  not 
\\\sU  }ou  to  uiiHwer  before  you  liave  taken  tlni>>  to  counHcl.  We  will, 
tliinfore,  jiitrt  thU  Dvenln^,  and  when  tho  Oreat  Hplrit  filiall  britii;  um 
to^T'ther  UKiii»<  let  UH  Mpeak  and  think  iiko  men,  with  tuo  heart  and  onu 
unxjiMV." 

This  ripecch  ])r()(lii('e(l  tin'  dcHirfni  effect,  and,  uport  the  t'ol- 
lowing  (lay,  the  "  IIlmI  Pouple,"  mul  the  "  Hig  Kiiivet*  "  tuiited 
in  pcjico.  It  will  !>«'  IniposHibIt!,  within  tlu>  Hcopo  of  thin  vol- 
iiiiu',  to  give  a  till!  lu'iroiint  of  nil  the  intfroHtliig  iiicideutB 
which  rtiuToiiiided  the  imtions  of  Colonel  (Uiirk  in  the  West. 
Followinjjf  i«  one,  however,  whieh  I  cannot  omit:  A  party  of 
IiidiaiiH,  known  as  the  Metidow  Indianrt,*  ha<l  come  to  attend 
the  council  with  their  neighhorn.  TIichc,  by  some  means,  were 
induced  to  attempt  the  mtirder  of  the  invaders,  and  tried  to 
ohtiiin  an  o])portiinity  to  commit  the  crime  proposed,  by  snr- 
piising  Clark  and  his  otHcers  in  their  qimrters.  In  this  plan 
they  failed,  and  their  jMirpose  was  discovered  by  tlie  sagacity 
of  the  French  in  attendance;  when  this  was  done,  Clark  gave 
them  to  the  French  to  deal  with  as  they  pleased,  but  with  a 
hint  that  some  of  the  leaders  would  be  as  well  in  irons.  Thus 
fettered  and  foiled,  the  chiefs  were  brought  dtiily  to  the  cotmcil 
house,  where  he  whom  they  ])ropofeed  to  kill,  was  engaged  daily 
in  forming  friendly  relations  with  their  red  brethren.  At 
length,  when  by  these  means  the  futility  of  their  project  had 
heen  sufficiently  impressed  upon  them,  the  American  com- 
niandei"  ordered  their  irons  to  bo  struck  off,  and  in  his  quiet 
way,  full  of  scorn,  said,  "  Everybody  thinks  you  ought  to  die 
for  your  treachery  upon  my  life,  amidst  the  sacred  deliberations 

♦  Peck's  Narriitive. 


m 


THK   IA\¥>  OV   litNTIAfl   AND  TKmniRlli; 


uf  u  couru'il.  I  Um\  (li*t«>rtninotl  to  inflict  df>ntli  u|H»n  you  tor 
your  l)aM<<  atttMiipr,  and  yoti  yoiir«olv«*ii  niiiitt  \w  wunihU'  tina 
you  Imvu  jUHtly  tort'vlted  your  Uvum;  hut.  on  c'otiHi(|i>riii^  tin 
nionnneMM  of  wiiU'ltin^  a  Utar  and  catnhinf^  liitn  aMlt*i>|),  I  Imvi' 
tuun<l  out  that  you  nn\  not  warriorit,  only  old  woin«>n,  ami  Iki 
nu'«n  to  Ix)  kilh^l  hy  tho  Big  Knifo.  But,"  continui'd  he,  "n» 
you  ought  to  ))o  puniHhod  tor  putting  on  hruufh  i-lotliH  liku  ntcn, 
they  "hall  Im«  taken  away  troiri  you,  ])l«nty  of  prt)viHion«  t*lmll 
he  given  for  your  journey  home,  as  women  don't  know  how  to 
hurtt,  and  during  your  stay  you  ithall  he  treate<l  in  ev»«ry 
renpect  a»  itquawit/*  TIicmu  few  cutting  words  conchultMl,  the 
Coloiu'l  turne«l  away  to  converau  with  otherri.  The  childrt'n 
of  the  prairie,  who  had  looked  for  anger,  not  contempt— pun- 
iHhnient,  not  freedoni — were  unaccountably  utirred  by  thin 
treatment.  They  took  wjuubcI  together,  and  prenently  a  cliiit' 
came  forwanl  with  a  belt  and  |)ipo  of  |)eace,  which,  with  proper 
wordH,  he  laid  upon  the  table.  The  interpretiT  Htood  ready  to 
trauHlate  the  words  of  friondHhip,  but,  with  curling  lip,  the 
American  Haid  he  did  not  wiuh  t4^>  hear  them,  and  lifting' a 
Bword  whicli  lay  before  liim,  he  Hhattored  the  offered  pipe,  with 
tlie  cutting  expreHHion  that  "  ho  did  not  treat  with  women." 
The  l)ewildered,  overwhelmed  Meadow  Indiana,  next  asked  the 
intercession  of  other  red  men,  already  admitted  to  friondHliip, 
but  the  only  reply  was,  "  The  Big  Knifo  has  made  no  war  uiwn 
these  j)eo])le;  they  are  of  a  kind  that  we  shoot  like  wolves  when 
wo  meet  them  in  the  woods,  lest  they  eat  the  deer."  All  this 
wrought  more  and  more  upon  the  offending  tribe;  again  they 
took  counsel,  and  then  two  young  men  camo  forward,  and,  co7. 
ering  their  heads  with  their  blankets,  sat  down  before  the 
impenetrable  commander;  then  two  chiefs  arose,  and  stating 
that  these  young  warriors  offered  their  lives  as  an  atoneinent 
for  the  misdoings  of  their  relatives,  again  they  presented  the 
pipe  of  peace.  Silence  reigned  in  the  assembly,  while  the  fate 
of  the  proffered  victims  hung  in  suspense;  all  watched  the 
countenance  of  the  American  leader,  who  could  scarce  master 
the  emotion  which  the  incident  excited.  Still,  all  sat  noiselesfi, 
nothing  heard  but  the  deep  breathing  of  those  whose  lives  thus 
hung  by  a  thread.     Presently,  he  upon  whom  all  depended, 


UN,   TIIK    IMmOKH    WAMK   or   TWO   ('(CNTUNIM. 


I6» 


ftriMd,  liixit  up|>roiu;liiii|(  tli«i  yoiiii^  mm,  lio  l>tt(lu  thciin  be 
urtcoviri'd  uikI  Htutid  up.  Tlixy  Hpmii^  to  tliitir  tViut.  '*  I  am 
^hid  to  tiiitt,**  Huitl  (Hiirk,  wiiniily,  "  that  tluTo  uro  iiiun  Hinong 
ull  tiiitioriH.  With  you,  who  uloiir  uro  tit  to  l)u  chiid'n  of  your 
tril)«%  1  liiii  willing  t«>  tri>ut;  throuj^h  yon  I  niii  rtwiy  to  ^rnrit 
IM'iict)  tu  your  brotluTH;  1  tuku  you  l>y  tho  liaixU  um  chivtM, 
worthy  of  Ihmm^  Huch."  Horo  nf(uiii  tho  ftMirh>MH  gunoroiiity, 
t\w  ^(MicrouH  fourlcMnuRR  of  (JIurk,  proved  purtcctly  iiucceiiBful» 
and  while  the  trilio  in  (|uuMtion  hvcHinu  tliu  alliuM  of  America, 
till!  tamo  of  tlio  <H!eurreni!o,  wliieli  Mpreiid  fur  and  wide  tlirough 
tliu  NorthweHt,  mode  tlio  naino  of  the  white  negotiator  evorjr- 
wliere  renpected. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


'%' 


1 


CON<iUE8T  OF  IMJNOIB  CONTINUED—  BUAVEUY  OF  GkOUOK  IlOOKIlH 
Cr.ARK—  Uk  TAKING  OF  P08T  VINOENNK8  BY  Coi,.  HAMILTON  - 
COUKAQE  OP    CaI'T.     HrT.M  —  ClARK'8    EXPEDITION    AGAINST    HaMIU 

TON  —  Hamilton   taken   Pkisonkr — Kbsults  of   Clark's   Cam- 

PAIGN. 

It  was  not  long  before  Vincennes  (Vincent)  was  recaptured 
by  Henry  Hamilton,  the  British  Lieiit.-Governor  of  Detroit. 
He  collected  an  army  ot  thirty  regulars,  fifty  French  volun- 
teers, and  four  hundred  Indians,  and  went  down  from  Detroit, 
to  the  Wabash,  and  thence  to  Vincennes,  where  he  appeared  on 
the  fifteenth  of  December,  1778.  The  people  did  not  attempt 
to  defend  the  place,  as  Capt.  Helm  and  a  man  named  Heurv 
were  the  only  Americans  in  the  post.  Helm,  however,  placed 
a  cannon  in  the  open  gateway,  and  stood  beside  it  with  a 
lighted  match,  and  as  Col.  Hamilton's  party  approached  witliin 
hailing  distance,  the  bold  captain  commanded  them  to  halt, 
whereupon  the  British  commander  stopped  and  summoned  the 
garrison  to  surrender.  "  No  man  shall  enter  here  until  I  know 
the  terms,"  said  Helm.  Seeing  this  firmness,  Hamilton 
replied:  "You  shall  have  the  honors  of  war."  The  fort  was 
then  surrendered,  liiid  the  one  officer  and  the  one  soldier 
received  due  marks  of  respect  for  their  bravery.  Helm  was 
held  in  the  fort  as  a  prisoner,  the  French  were  disarmed,  and, 
bands  of  hostile  Indians  began  to  appear  around  the  other 
posts.  Col.  Clark's  situation  now  became  dangerous.  He 
ordered  Major  Bowman  to  evacuate  the  fort  at  Cahokia,  and 
join  him  at  Kaskaskia.  "  I  could  see,"  says  Clark,  "  but  little 
probability  of  keeping  possession  of  the  country,  as  my  num- 
ber of  men  was  too  small  to  stand  a  seige,  and  my  situation 
too  remote  to  call  for  assistance.     I  made  all  the  preparations 

(170) 


OK,   TIIK    IU)|{|)KK    WAKS   OF   TWO   OKNTURIfX. 


171 


I  possibly  could  for  the  atta(!k,  and  was  necessitated  to  set  Are 
to  some  of  the  outhouses  in  the  town  to  clear  them  out  of  the 
way."  At  this  timo  Clark  was  trying  to  conceive  a  plan  for 
capturing  C'ol.  Hamilton,  and  retaking  Post  Vincennes.  He 
engaged  Col.  PVancis  Vigo,  then  a  wealthy  resident  of  St. 
Louis,  to  go  to  Vincennes  and  investigate  its  strength.  At 
Clark's  request  this  brave  Spanish  officer,  with  a  single  attend- 
ant, started  for  Vincennes,  but  was  captured  at  the  Embarrass 
by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  plundered  him  and  brought  him  to 
Col.  Hamilton.  Being  a  Spanish  subject,  Hamilton  had  no 
power  to  hold  him  i)risoner,  but,  set  him  at  liberty  only  on  the 
condition  that  he  would  return  direct  to  St.  Louis.  This  Vigo 
did,  but  remained  only  long  enough  to  change  his  dress,  when 
lie  returned  to  Kaskaskia,  and  gave  Col.  Clark  fullinfor  ition 
of  the  condition  of  the  British  post  at  Vincennes,  the  pro- 
jected movement  of  Hamilton,  and  the  friendly  feelings  of  the 
French  towards  the  Americans.  From  him  Col.  Clark  learned 
that  a  portion  of  the  Jiritish  troops  were  absent  on  marauding 
parties  with  the  Indians,  that  the  garrison  consisted  of  about 
eighty  regular  soldiers,  three  brass  field  pieces,  and  some 
swivels,  and  that  Gov.  Hamilton  meditated  the  re-capture  of 
Kaskaskia  early  in  the  spring.  Col.  Clark  determined  on  the 
bold  project  of  an  expedition  to  Vincennes,  of  which  he  wrote 
to  Gov.  Henry,  and  sent  an  express  to  Virginia.  As  a  reason 
for  this  hazardous  project.  Col.  Clark  urged  the  force  and 
designs  of  Hamilton,  ^^aying  to  Governor  Henry  in  his  letter, 
"  I  knew  if  I  did  not  take  him  he  would  take  me." 

A  boat  was  prepared,  carrying  two  four  pounders,  and  four 
swivels,  and  commanded  by  Capt.  John  Eogers,  with  forty-six 
men,  and  provisions,  was  dispatched  from  Kaskaskia  to  the 
Ohio,  with  orders  to  proceed  up  the  Wabash  as  secretly  as 
possible  to  a  place  near  the  mouth  of  the  Embarrass.  Two 
companies  of  men  were  raised  from  Cahokia,  and  Kaskaskia, 
commanded  by  Captains  McCarty  and  Charleville,  which,  with 
the  Americans,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  seventy  men. 
The  winter  was  exceedingly  wet,  and  all  the  streams  and  low 
land  in  that  section  of  the  country  were  overflowed,  but  not- 
withstanding this,  the  fragment  of  an  army,  on  the  seventh  of 


\ 


-  Jl 


172 


THE   L1VK8  OF    PONTIAO   AND   TKilUMSEH! 


February,  1779,  commenced  its  march  from  Kaskaskia.  Their 
route  lay  through  the  prairies  and  points  of  timber  east  of  th« 
Kaskaskia  river  —  a  northeasterly  course,  through  W^ashington 
and  Marion  counties,  into  Clay  county,  where  the  trail,  notice- 
able  as  late  as  1830,  crossed  the  route  from  St.  Louis  to  Vin- 
cennes.  "This  was  one  of  the  most  dreary  and  fatiguing 
expeditions  of  the  Revolutionary  War."  After  inexpressible 
hardships,  the  little  army  reached  the  Little  Wabash,  the  low 
bottoms  of  which,  for  many  miles,  were  covered  with  water 
from  three  to  four  feet  deep.  On  the  thirteenth  of  February 
they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  "  Muddy  River,"  as  it  was  then 
called,  ^ There  they  made  a  canoe  and  ferried  over  their  bag- 
gage, wiiich  they  placed  on  a  scaiFold  on  the  opposite  bank,  to 
keep  it  out  of  the  water.  Rains  fell  nearly  every  day,  but  the 
weather  was  not  extremely  cold.  Up  to  this  point  they  had 
borne  their  hardships  with  great  fortitude,  but  now  the  spirits 
of  many  began  to  flag.  Among  the  party  was  an  Irishman 
will!  could  sing  many  comic  songs,  and  as  the  party  were 
wading  in  the  water  up  to  their  waists,  this  curious  fellow  sat 
upon  liis  large  drum,  which  readily  floated  him,  and  enter- 
tained the  half  ])erishing  troops  with  his  comic  musical  talents. 
On  the  eighteenth  of  the  same  raontii  they  heard  the  morning 
gun  of  the  fort,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day  they  were 
on  the  Great  Wabash,  below  the  mouth  of  the  Embarrass. 
Tliis  is  the  spot  where,  as  we  have  seen,  they  were  to  meet  the 
boat  with  supplies.  But  now  there  were  no  signs  of  it,  and 
the  troops  were  in  the  most  exhausted,  destitute  and  starving 
condition.  The  river  had  overflowed  its  banks,  all  the  low 
gi'ound  was  covered  with  water,  and  canoes  could  not  be  con- 
structed  to  carry  them  over  before  the  British  garrison  would 
discover  and  capture  the  whole  party.  On  the  twentietli  of 
February  they  captured  a  boat  from  Post  Vincennes,  and  from 
the  crew,  whom  they  detained,  they  learned  that  the  French 
population  were  friendly  to  the  Americans,  and  that  no  sus- 
picion of  the  expedition  had  reached  the  British  garrison. 

The  remainder  of  the  march  is  so  full  of  incident,  and  so 
worthy  of  preservation,  that  I  will  permit  Col.  ( 'lark  to  give 
the  narrative  in  his  own  peculiar  language  : 


OR,   THK   BORDER    WARS   OF   TWO    C1*JSTURIKH. 


173 


"Tlii«  last  day's  march,*  (February  2lBt,)  through  the  water, 
was  far  superior  to  any  thing  the  Frenchmen  had  any  idea  of; 
thoy  were  backward  in  speaking — said  that  the  nearest  land  to 
us  was  a  small  league,  called  the  sugar  camp,  on  the  bank  of 
the  slough.  A  canoe  was  sent  off  and  returned  without  finding 
tliat  we  could  pass.  I  went  in  her  myself  and  sounded  the 
water;  found  it  deep  as  to  my  neck.  1  returned  with  a  design 
to  have  the  men  transported  on  board  the  canoes  to  the  sugar 
camp,  whi(jh  I  knew  would  spend  the  whole  day  and  ensuing 
night,  as  the  vessels  would  pass  slowly  through  the  bushes. 
The  loss  of  so  much  time,  to  men  half  starved,  was  a  matter 
of  consequence.  I  would  have  given  now  a  great  deal  for  a 
day's  provision,  or  for  one  of  our  horses.  1  returned  but 
slowly  to  the  troops,  giving  myself  time  to  think.  On  our 
arrival  all  ran  to  hear  what  was  the  report.  Every  eye  was 
fixed  on  me.  I  unfortunately  spoke  in  a  serious  manner  to 
one  of  the  officers;  the  whole  were  alarmed  without  knowing 
what  I  said.  I  viewed  their  confusion  for  about  one  minute — 
whispered  to  those  near  me  to  do  as  I  did-»-immcdiately  put 
some  water  in  my  hand,  poured  on  powder,  blackened  my 
face,  gave  the  war-whoop,  marched  into  the  water,  without 
saying  a  word.  The  party  gazed,  fell  in,  one  after  another, 
without  saying  a  word,  like  a  flock  of  sheep.  I  ordered  those 
near  me  to  give  a  favorite  song  of  theirs;  it  soon  passed 
thr  ,h  the  line,  and  the  whole  went  on  cheerfully.  I  now 
intended  to  have  them  transported  across  the  deepest  part  of 
the  water,  but  when  about  waist  deep,  one  of  the  men  informed 
me  that  he  thought  he  felt  a  path.  We  examined  and  found 
it  so,  and  concluded  that  it  kept  on  the  highest  ground,  which 
it  did,  and  by  taking  pains  to  follow  it  we  got  to  the  sugar 
camp  without  the  least  difficulty,  where  there  was  about  half 
an  acre  of  dry  ground,  at  least  not  under  water,  where  we  took 
up  our  lodgings.  The  Frenchmen  that  we  had  taken  on  the 
river  appeared  to  be  uneasy  at  our  situation.  They  begged 
that  they  might  be  permitted  to  go  in  the  two  canoes  to  town 
in  the  night;  they  said  they  would  bring  from  their  own  houses 
provisions  without  the  possibility  of  any  person  knowing  it; 

•  Clark's  Journal. 


174 


rilK    t.lVKH   OF    TONTIAO    AND   TKOUMSKII'. 


that  Bonio  of  our  men  should  /,'o  with  them  us  a  surety  of  their 
good  conduct — that  it  was  impossible  we  could  march  trnin 
that  place  till  the  water  fell,  for  the  plain  was  too  deop  to 
march.  Some  of  the  [officers?]  believed  that  it  might  be  d(»ne. 
I  would  not  huti'er  it.  I  never  could  well  account  for  this  piece 
of  obi^tinacy,  and  give  riatisfactory  reasons  to  myself,  or  atiy 
body  else,  wliv  1  denied  a  projiosition  apparently  so  »'aHV  u, 
execnff.  and  of  so  much  advantage;  but  something  seenicd  to 
tell  me  it  flionld  not  be  done,  and  it  was  not  done. 

"The  most  of  the  weather  that  we  had  on  this  nuirch  was 
moist  and  warm,  for  the  8eaH(»n.  This  was  the  coldest  iii<rht 
we  had.  The  ice  in  the  morning  was  from  one-half  to  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  thick,  near  the  shores,  and  in  still  Wiiter. 
The  morning  was  the  finest  we  had  on  our  march.  A  little 
after  sunrise  I  lectured  the  whole.  What  I  said  to  them  I  forget, 
but  it  may  easily  be  imagined  by  a  person  that  could  possess 
my  affections  for  them  at  that  time;  I  concluded  by  informing 
them  that  passing  the  plain  that  was  then  in  full  view,  iiiid 
reaching  the  opposite  woods  would  put  an  end  to  their  fatigue- 
that  in  a  few  hours  they  would  have  a  sight  of  their  long 
wished  for  object — and  immediately  stepped  into  the  water 
without  waiting  for  any  reply.  A  huzza  took  place.  As  we 
generally  marched  through  the  water  in  a  line,  before  the  third 
entered  I  halted  and  called  to  Major  Bowman,  t)rdered  him  to 
fall  in  the  rear  with  twenty-five  men,  and  to  put  to  death  any 
man  who  refused  to  march,  as  we  wished  to  have  no  such  per- 
son among  us.  The  whole  gave  a  cry  of  approbation,  and  on 
we  went.  This  was  the  most  trying  of  all  the  difficulties  we 
had  experienced.  I  generally  kept  fifteen  or  twenty  of  the 
strongest  men  next  myself,  and  judged  from  my  own  feelings 
what  must  be  that  of  others.  Getting  about  the  middle  of  the 
plain,  the  water  about  mid-deep,  I  found  myself  sensibly  failing; 
and  as  there  were  no  trees  or  bushes  for  the  men  to  support 
themselves  by,  I  feared  that  many  of  the  most  weak  would  be 
drowned.  I  ordered  the  canoes  to  make  the  land,  discharge 
their  loading,  and  play  backwards  and  forwards  with  all  dili- 
gence, and  pick  up  the  men;  and  to  encourage  the  party,  sent 
some  of  the  strongest  men  forward  with  orders,  when  they  got 


cases.     It  w£ 


OR,  TBK   BORDER    WARS  OK  TWO   C^NTURIKB. 


m 


to  a  certain  diHtanee,  to  pass  the  word  back  that  the  water  was 
getting  Bhallow;  and  wlien  getting  near  the  woods  to  cry  out 
'Land I'  Tins  stratagem  had  its  desired  effect.  The  men, 
encouraged  by  it,  exerted  tliemselves  ahnost  beyond  their  abil- 
ities, the  weak  iiolding  by  tlie  stronger.  *  ^  *  The  water 
never  got  shallower,  but  continued  deepening.  Getting  to  the 
woods  where  the  men  expected  land,  the  water  was  up  to  my 
bhoulders;  but  gaining  the  woods  was  of  great  consequence; 
all  the  low  men  and  weakly,  hung  to  the  trees,  and  floated  on 
the  old  logs  until  they  were  taken  off  by  the  canoes.  The 
strong  and  tall  got  ashore  and  built  fires.  Many  would  reach 
the  shore  and  fall  with  their  iKxiies  half  in  the  water,  not  being 
able  to  support  themselves  without  it. 

"This  was  a  delightful  dry  spot  of  ground  of  about  ten  acres. 
We  soon  found  that  fires  answered  no  purpose;  but  that  two 
strong  men  taking  a  weaker  one  by  the  arms  was  the  only 
way  to  recover  him;  and,  being  a  de  'ghtful  day,  it  soon  did. 
But,  fortuTuitely,  as  if  designed  by  Providence,  a  canoe  of 
Indian  squaws  and  children  were  coming  up  to  town,  and  took 
through  part  of  this  plain  as  a  nigh  way.  It  was  discovered 
by  our  canoes  as  they  were  out  after  the  men.  They  gave 
chase  and  took  the  Indian  canoe,  on  board  of  which  was  near 
half  a  quarter  of  buffalo,  some  corn,  tallow,  kettles,  etc.  This 
was  a  grand  prize,  and  was  invaluable.  Broth  was  immediately 
aiade  and  served  out  to  the  most  weakly  with  great  care ;  most 
or  the  whole  got  a  little;  but  a  great  many  gave  their  part  to 
the  weakly,  jocosely  raying  something  cheering  to  their  com- 
rades. This  little  refreshment  and  tine  weather,  by  the  after- 
noon, gave  life  to  the  whole.  Crossing  a  narrow  deep  lake  in 
the  canoes,  and  marching  some  distance,  we  came  to  a  copse 
of  timber  called  the  'Warrior's  Island.'  We  were  now  in  full 
view  of  the  fort  and  town,  not  a  shrub  between  us,  at  about 
two  miles  distance.  Every  man  now  feasted  his  eyes  and 
forgot  that  he  had  suffered  anything — saying  that  all  that  had 
passed  was  owing  to  good  policy,  and  nothing  but  what  a  man 
could  bear  ;  and  that  a  soldier  had  no  right  to  think,  etc., 
passing  from  one  extreme  to  another,  which  is  c  :>mmon  in  such 
cases.     It  was  now  we  had  to  display  our  abilities.    The  plain 


176 


Tlll£    UVK8   OF    PONTIAO    AND   TKOUMMKU: 


between  us  aiui  the  town  was  not  a  perfect  level.  The  sunken 
grounds  were  covered  with  water  full  of  ducks.  We  observed 
Boveral  men  out  on  horseback,  shooting  them,  within  hail'  a 
mile  of  us,  and  sent  out  as  many  of  our  active  young  French- 
men to  decoy  and  take  one  of  tlieso  men  prisoner,  in  such  a 
manner  as  not  to  alarm  the  others,  which  they  did.  Tlu^ 
information  we  got  from  this  person  was  similar  to  that  wiuch 
we  ^ot  from  those  we  took  on  the  river,  except  that  of  the 
British  having  that  evening  completed  the  wall  of  the  fort,  and 
that  there  were  a  good  many  Indians  in  town, 

"Our  situation  was  now  truly  critical;  no  possibility  of 
retreating  in  case  of  defeat,  and  in  full  view  of  a  town  that 
had  at  this  time  upwards  of  six  hundred  men  in  it,  troopB. 
inhabitants  and  Indians.  The  crew  of  the  galley,  though  not 
fifty  men,  would  now  have  been  a  reinforcement  of  immense 
magnitude  to  our  little  army,  (if  I  may  so  call  it,)  but  we 
would  not  think  of  them.  We  were  now  in  the  situation  that 
I  had  labored  to  get  ourselves  in.  The  idea  of  being  made 
prisoner  was  foreign  to  almost  every  man,  as  they  expected 
nothing  but  torture  from  the  savages  if  they  fell  into  their 
hands.  Our  fate  was  now  to  be  determined,  probably  in  a  few 
hours.  We  knew  that  nothing  but  the  most  daring  conduct 
would  ensure  success.  I  knew  that  a  number  of  the  inhabitants 
wished  us  well,  that  many  were  lukewarm  to  the  interest  of 
either,  and  I  also  learned  that  the  Grand  Chief,  the  Tobacco's 
son,  but  a  few  days  before  openly  declared  in  council  with  the 
British,  that  he  was  a  brother  and  a  friend  to  the  Big  Knives. 
These  were  favorable  circumstances,  and  as  there  was  but  little 
probability  of  our  remaining  until  dark  undiscovered,  I  deter 
mined  to  begin  the  career  immediately,  and  wrote  the  follow- 
ing placard  to  the  inhabitants  : 

To  THE  Inhabitants  of  Vincennes.  —  Oentlemen:  Beinfj;  now  witliin 
two  miles  of  your  vilhigo,  with  my  army,  determined  to  taicc  your  fort  this 
niglit,  and  not  being  willing  to  surprise  you,  I  take  this  method  to  reqiiost 
such  of  you  as  are  true  citizens  and  willing  to  enjoy  the  liberty  I  brinp 
you,  to  remain  still  in  your  houses,  and  those,  if  any  there  be,  that  are 
friends  to  the  king,  will  instantly  repair  to  the  fort  and  join  the  hair-buyer 
General  and  tight  like  men.  And  if  any  such  as  do  not  go  to  tin;  tort 
shall  be  discovered  afterwards,  they  may  depend  on  severe  punishment. 


OK,   TIIK    UOKDICK    WAKH   oK   TWO   (iKNTUKriOI. 


On  tho  contrary,  tliosu  who  are  true  I'riondi  to  lltH'rty  rnny  dcpiiii'.!  on  being 
well  troHtod,  and  I  oncv  more  roquevt  thorn  t()  kcop  out  of  the  streets.  For 
every  one  I  find  in  urnm  on  my  arrival  I  shall  treat  )>ini  as  an  enemy. 

(Higned)  G.  U.  Cimiik. 

Tliis  notice  had  the  desired  effect,  it  iiiHpired  tliu  friendly 
inhabitants  witli  confidence  and  filled  the  enemy  with  terror. 
On  the  same  day  about  sunset  the  little  army  set  off  to  attack 
the  fort.  In  order  to  convince  Hamilton  that  the  invwlers 
consisted  of  a  large  army,  Col.  Clark  divided  his  men  into 
platoons,  each  displaying  a  different  flag,  and  after  marching 
and  counter-marching  around  some  mounds  within  sight  of 
the  fort,  and  making  other  demonHtrations  of  numbers  and 
strength  till  dark,  Lieut.  Bayley,  with  fourteen  men,  was  sent 
to  attack  the  fort.  This  party  secured  themselves  within  thirty 
yards  of  the  fort,  defended  by  a  bank  and  safe  from  tlie  enemy's 
fire,  and  as  soon  as  a  port  hole  was  opened  a  dozen  rifles  were 
directed  to  the  aperture.  One  soldier  fell  dead,  and  the  rest 
could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  stand  to  the  guns.  On  the 
morning  of  the  twenty-fourth.  Col.  Clark  sent  a  Hag  of  truce 
with  the  following  letter  to  Col.  Hamilton,  while  his  men,  for 
the  first  time  in  six  days,  were  provided  with  breakfast: 

Sir:  In  order  to  save  yourself  from  tho  impending  storm  that  now 
threatens  yt)U,  I  order  you  immediately  to  surrender  yourself,  witli  nil  your 
j^arrison,  stores,  etc.,  etc.  For  if  I  am  obliged  to  storm,  you  may  dei)end 
upon  such  treatment  as  is  justly  due  to  a  murderer.  Beware  of  destroying 
stores  of  any  kind,  or  any  papers  or  letters  that  are  in  your  possession,  or 
hurting  one  house  in  town,  for,  by  ifeavens,  if  you  do,  there  shall  be  no 
mercy  shown  you.  6.  R.  Clabk. 

To  Gov.  Hamilton. 

Col.  Hamilton  replied  as  follows: 

Gov.  Hamilton  begs  leave  to  acquaint  Col.  Clark  that  he  and  his  gar- 
rison are  not  disposed  to  be  awed  into  any  action  unworthy  British 

subjects. 

The  attack  was  renewed  with  great  vigor,  and  soon  after 
Hamilton  sent  another  message  to  the  invader,  as  follows: 

Gov.  Hamilton  proposes  to  Col.  Clark  a  truce  for  three  days,  during 
which  time  he  promises  that  there  shall  be  no  defensive  works  carried  on 
12 


178 


THK    I,IVh>   UK    |>ON'riAr    ANI>   TKI'I'MMKII  : 


III  Mii>  unrritkon,  on  conilitinn  tliul  Col.  Cliirk  will  ohMorvt',  on  IiIh  part,  it 
llkf  (■••MMiitloii  of  iilifiiHivc  work:  Hint  U,  In*  wUIii'h  to  coiitVr  with  Cul 
('lurk,  iiH  Modii  Its  run  Im>,  hikI  pnuiilHus  tliut  wliuli-vcr  iiiuy  piiMH  lit'twccn 
tlit'in  two  uiiil  iiiioMii>r  iktnoii  iiiiitiiully  u»;rfc<l  on  to  Im-  pn*M«>nt,  mIikH 
ri'inuiii  M*'cn-l  till  iimtt«ri«  Ih>  tliiislii'd ;  as  Iw  nvIhIich  ll'ut  wliutt'vi'r  Iht- 
result  of  till'  coiit'i'micc  iiiuy  lie,  It  iimv  tend  to  the  honor  und  (Tcdii  of 
I'licli  party.  It' ('ol.  (lurk  iiiaki'H  a  dlDlctilly  of  coming  into  the  tort, 
Meiit.  Oov.  Hainlltoii  will  Mpeak  with  liiiu  by  the  gate. 

Hkmky  IIamii.ton. 

This  mcHsii^e  wan  written  on  the  24tli  of  Ki'lirimry,  177l), 
Hiid  iiiaiilft'rttt'd  a  t'erliii;;  tluit  (Hark  liiul  «'X|M'ct«'<l.  His  rcjily 
was:  *'('ol.  (Mark's  {'ntiipliiiu'iitH  to  (^ov.  Iliiiiiilton,  and  l«'ifn 
leave  tt>  way  that  lu'  will  not  a^ree  to  atiy  teriiiB  otlior  than  Mr. 
iramiltoii  surnMnlcriiiiii:  himsflt'  and  garrison  jiriHoni'rw  at  dis- 
crt'tion.  It'  Mr.  Hamilton  wai\trt  to  talk  witli  Col.  (-lark,  lie 
will  meet  him  at  the  church  with  (!aj)t.  Helm." 

A  cont'erence  was  held  as  |u. (posed,  when  (Mark  would  aiijrt't' 
only  to  u  surrender,  and  tlireatened  to  mtissaero  the  leading; 
men  4..  the  tort  tor  siij)|)lying  tlio  Indians  with  the  means  ot 
annoyivnce  and  purchasin";;  seal]>s,  it*  his  terms  were  not 
accepted.  In  a  few  moments  atlerwards  Col.  (Mark  dictiitetl 
terms  ot  sur  ^  ider  which  were  accepted.'*''  On  the  twenty-tit^li 
of  Fehruary  Fort  Sackvillc  was  surrendered  to  the  Americiiii 
troops  and  the  <j^arrison  treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  stars 
and  stripes  were  unfolded  ahove  its  battlements  and  thirteen 
guns  celebrated  the  victory.  Seventy-nine  prisoners  and  stores 
to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  were  captured  by  this 
bold  enterprise,  and  the  whole  country  along  the  Mississijipi 
and  Wabash  remained  ever  after  in  the  peaceful  possession  of 


*  Ist,  Llentenimt-GovDrnor  Itnmllton  agraoR  to  dullvur  up  to  Col.  eiiirk  Port  Suck- 
vlllo,  B»  It  In  at  prt'Heiit.  with  Its  «tore§,  etc. 

•M\.  Thu  giirrlHon  lire  to  (iKliver  MinmaulvoB  ax  prlHonem  of  wnr  und  march  oat  with 
their  arniH  1111(1  accoiitriMnciitb. 

:W.    Tho  fiairisoii  to  bo  dcllvurt'd  up  to-morrow,  at  ten  o'clock. 

4th.  Thrt'i!  days"  time  to  be  allowed  the  KHrrioon  to  gettlo  their  accounts  with  the 
InhabitiiiitH  mul  traderw. 

Sth.    The  (ifUeerM  of  the  garrison  to  he  allowed  their  necoHHury  bagK'^K**'  otc. 

Signed  111  PoHt  St.  Vini'cnneB.  the  24th  day  of  Feliruary,  ITVil;  auruod  to  for  the  fol- 
lowing reuKoiiH:  iHt.  lieinotencBB  from  succor ;  ad.  Thf  Htiitc  und  quantity  of  provisioni; 
8d.  'i'hC  HHun'nnlty  of  the  oftlcerB  and  men  in  itn  expediency;  4th.  The  honorable  termJ 
allowed:  and,  lastly,  the  couftdeuce  in  a  generous  eutMuy. 

Hknry  Hamilton, 
Litul«nant-Ouvenior  and  S uperinUndwt. 


OK,   TilK    BOKUKK    WAKN  Of  TWO  (IKNTURIIM. 


179 


till'  Atnorlcani.  In  the  uliort  contcHt  only  one  of  tlie  Arricricnni 
wiiH  woun<li>d.  Thu  MritiHli  hud  onv  kiWvd  and  uix  Huvorcly 
wniiiulHd.  (iuv.  Iliiuiilton  WHH  Hftnt  prinoncr  to  Virginia, 
wlii'i'i)  h(^  WHM  confinttd  in  jail,  tettcrc*!  and  alorus  an  a  pnnish- 
merit  for  hiH  wicked  |M(Iiey  »)f  otU'iin^  rewardn  for  American 
H(iil):H,  hut  aH  thiH  ])uniHhinent  was  not  in  aecordaneo  with  the 
U-riuH  of  wtirrender,  ho  wa^*  ulitM-wanlH  net  at  lilKtrty. 

(\»1.  (Mark  returned  to  Kaska^kia,  where  he  found  hJB  paper 
iiiuiiey  /^rejvtly  depreciat«(l,  aiwl  where  h<!  was  forced  to  ])Ied^e 
]m  own  credit  to  procure  what  he  needed  to  an  extent  that 
injured  his  tliumcial  jtrospectH. 

It  i«  dirticiiit  to  estinuite  the  true  vahie  of  Chirk's  campaign 
to  American  itulependence.  "But  for  hin  Hmall  army  of  drip- 
piiij;,  hut  fearicHH  Vir^inianH,"  Hays  Mr.  Peck,  "  the  union  of 
all  the  trihes  from  (ieorgia  to  Maine  aj^ain«t  the  colonies, 
tni^'lit  iiave  heen  effected  and  tlie  whole  current  of  our  history 
changed.  Tlie  conquest  of  Clark  changed  the  face  of  affairs 
in  relation  to  the  whole  country  north  of  the  Ohio  river,  which, 
in  all  prohability,  w<ndd  have  been  the  boundary  between 
Canada  and  the  United  States.  This  conquest  was  urged  by 
the  American  commissioners  in  negotiating  the  definite  treaty 
of  1793." 


CH.VPTKR    XXir. 

DoitDRIlH  OK    KKNtm^KY     -H<M»NK'H  MaLT    Kxi'l'lDn'MlN  —  IFi«   ('AI"rURB-~ 
IIlH    DkKKNNK    tlK     ItiMlNMIUUlordll    -    InVAMIiiN    <!»'  TIIK    C'UUMTKY  (ir 

TiiK  Hix  Nationh— Indian  Tuocmi.kb. 


\jvn:  »H  now  rtstuni  iiikI  hriiijij  torwurd  the  evetitu  in  tlu'  Itoi'. 
der  scttloiiu'iits  (it'  IvotUiu'ky.  Tlio  pioiu'tM'H  wtTo  now  (1778) 
stitturin^  itiiicli  tVotii  the  want  ut'  Hult,  und  the  lubor  niui  risk 
of  hriii^iiifjf  it  (»vei'  the  inountiiiiirt  woro  too  groat.  It  was  now 
resolved  hy  the  Hottlern  that  tliirty  u'on,  under  the  j^iiiduiico 
of  Captain  Daniel  Hoone,  one  of  the  earliest  and  uiont  active 
Bottlers  of  Iventutrky,  and  the  toiMiderof  nooi'shoroii^h,  hhould 
proceed  to  the  "  Lower  Hlne  Liekrt,''  on  f.ickin^'  river,  uimJ 
manufacture  salt.  T\n'  enterpriHe  was  coniinencod  on  N«»w 
Year'8  day,  177S.'*  IJoone  was  to  hv.  guide,  hunter  and  Hcout; 
the  others  were  to  cut  wood  and  attend  to  the  nnvnufacturing 
department.  They  rtiusceeded  well,  and  on  the  Heventii  of  the 
following  month  enough  had  been  made  to  lead  to  the  "etum 
of  three  of  the  party  to  the  stjitionn  with  the  pn^-iourt  com- 
modity. While  Boone  was  ranging  the  woods  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  salt  works  he  was  disscovep'd  aTid  captured  hy  n  large 
party  of  Shawanoes.  Boone's  com]>anif)ns  were  nextiiapturcd, 
and  all  were  now  taken  to  the  Indian  villuge  on  the  Little 
Miami,  f  It  was  no  part  of  the  plan  of  the  Shawanoes,  how- 
ever, to  retain  tiiese  men  in  captivity,  nor  yet  to  scalp,  slay  or 
eat  them.  Under  the  iiirtuence  and  rewards  of  Governor  Ham- 
ilton, the  British  comnuvnder  in  the  northwest,  the  Indians  liad 
taken  up  the  business  of  speculating  in  human  beings,  both 
dead  and  alive,  and  the  Shawanoes  meant  to  take  Boone  and 


*  Western  Annals. 
f  Peck'8  Narrative. 


I  \ 


(180) 


OK,  riih:  iii>Ki>Ku  WAKM  or  two  ukntukika. 


hU  coinrndeM  to  thu  Dt^troit  iiinrk<>t.  On  t)w  tenth  of  March, 
Hcciinlin^ly,  uUivuri  of  tint  party,  itichidin^  DaiiielhiniHolf,  \vi>ro 
(liwjHiUlied  f«>r  tho  north,  titnl  iiftrr  twiiity  duyM  of  jt)urneyiti^ 
wrri'  prcHontod  to  thu  Kiij^liHli  ^ovuriior,  who  treated  tliem, 
Kuoiie  M»y8,  with  ^r(!Ut  hiiiiiiihity.  To  Hoone  himself  IluiniU 
tun  and  Hoverul  other  |{i>t it  lumen  Heein  to  have  tuketi  an  eapecial 
tiiiu'V,  and  offered  lar^CNiiniH  for  hin  ri'k*aHo,  hut  the  Sliawanoet 
would  not  part  with  him  ;  lie  nturtt  ^o  home  witli  them,  they 
KHJd,  and  he  one  of  them,  and  hec.ome  a  ^reat  ehi  '  So  tiie 
pioneer  found  hiH  very  virtnen  heeomin^  the  caune  -  \  pro- 
joMj^ed  eaptivity.  In  April  the  red  men,  with  llieir  one  white 
captive,  about  t«»  he  converted  itJto  a  j?eniiine  mm  of  nature, 
returned  from  tho  flats  of  Miehij^an  to  the  rolling  valley«  of 
tlic  MiainiH.  And  now  the  white  hjood  was  waHhed  out  of  tho 
Kentucky  niti^er,  and  he  wan  made  a  Hon  in  the  family  of  Hlaek- 
fisli,  a  Sliuwanoes  chief,  and  wan  loved  and  ean!«Hed  hy  father 
1111(1  mother,  brothers  and  «iHters,  till  hu  waa  thoroughly  wiek 
ui'  them.  But  dis^uHt  he  could  not  show,  ho  he  was  kind  and 
uH'ahle,  and  kiniw  how  to  allay  any  suHpicions  they  might  liar- 
bor  Icrtt  he  should  run  away.  For  some  time  the  newly  nuide 
Indian,  Hoone,  entered  into  tlie  savage  life  with  a  pretended 
reliah.  On  tho  first  of  June  ho  was  returning  with  a  jiarty 
«f  Indians  to  the  village,  and  on  arriving  ho  found  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  of  tho  choieeHt  warriors  of  the  west  painted  and 
iirtned  for  battle.  Upon  Mupiiring  he  found  that  they  had 
formed  a  plan  to  destroy  U(»onsborough  and  capture  the 
inhabitants.  Bo(mo  now  eeerotly  resolved  to  risk  his  lite  to 
save  the  little  borough  he  had  founded.  And  although  over 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  this  town,  he  departed,  on 
the  morning  of  the  sixteenth  of  June,  while  all  was  quiet,  and 
without  any  breakfast,  started  on  his  long  and  dangerous 
journey.  He  traveled  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles  a  day  for  four 
successive  days,  and  ate  but  one  meal  during  the  whole  journey. 
At  last  he  reached  the  defenseless  town,  and  with  tho  alarmed 
inhabitants  at  once  commenced  repairing  the  fortifications. 
But  the  foe  came  not.  In  a  few  days  another  escaped  captive 
came  in  and  informed  Boone  that  the  Indians  were  unsettled 


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TIIIi:  UVKS  OF   FOMTIAO   AND  TKOUMSRH: 


in  their  plans,  knowing  not  what  to  do  since  he  had  departed. 
Thus  his  favorite  town  was  saved,  at  least  for  the  time  being. 
Boone,  with  a  small  party  of  the  settlers,  now  penetrated  the 
forests  to  surprise  an  Indian  village;  but  meeting  a  small  party 
of  Indians  he  discovered  that  they  were  marching  on  Boonsbo. 
rough  in  full  force.  He  had  scarcely  time  to  return  when  the 
enemy  appeared.  The  Indians,  to  the  number  of  four  hundred 
and  forty,  were  commanded  by  Chief  Blackiish,  and  the  (Cana- 
dians, to  the  number  of  eleven,  by  Captain  DuQuesne.  The 
advancing  enemy  displayed  both  the  English  and  French  flags. 
The  invaders  demanded  Boone  to  surrender  in  the  name  of  His 
Britannic  Majesty,  and  promised  a  liberal  treatment  for  the 
prisoners.  It  was  indeed  a  critical  moment.  Should  they  yield 
there  would  be  no  mercy  shown  them;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
there  was  but  little  chance  for  a  successful  resistance.  They 
had  no  provisions,  and  their  cattle  were  abroad  in  the  woods. 
Boone  asked  for  two  days  to  consider  the  matter,  and  his  request 
was  granted.  He  now  set  about  bringing  the  cattle  to  the  fort, 
which  was  soon  accomplished.  Being  thus  supplied  with  food, 
he  announced  the  determination  of  his  garrison  to  fight.  Cap- 
tain DuQuesne  was  sorely  grieved  at  this,  for  he  had  hoped  to 
take  the  place  without  bloodshed.  He  now  resorted  to  treach- 
ery. He  offered  to  withdraw  his  troops  if  the  garrison  would 
make  a  treaty.  Boone  suspected  all  was  not  right,  and  at  first 
he  refused  to  yield  ;  but  then  he  did  not  wish  to  starve  in  the 
fort  or  have  it  taken  by  storm,  and  he  thought,  as  he  ronieni- 
bered  Hamilton's  kindness  to  him  while  in  Detroit,  that  per- 
haps he  would  be  fairly  treated  by  his  representative,  so  he 
agreed  to  treat.  Boone  and  eight  of  his  men  now  went  out  of 
the  fort,  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  fortifications,  and  opened 
a  council  about  sixty  yards  distant.  The  treaty  was  made  and 
signed,  and  then  the  Indians,  saying  it  was  their  custom  for 
two  of  them  to  shake  hands  with  every  white  man  when  a  treaty 
was  made,  expressed  a  wish  to  press  the  palms  of  their  new 
allies.  Boone  and  his  friends  must  have  looked  doubtful  at 
this  proposal,  but  it  was  safer  to  accede  than  to  refuse  and 
be  shot  instantly,  so  they  presented  e^h  his  hand.  As  antici- 
pated, the  warriors  seized  them  with  rough  and  fierce  eagerness. 


OB,  THE  BOBDBR   WARS  OF  TWO  0KNTUKIB8. 


188 


The  whites  drew  back,  struggling.  The  treachery  was  appa- 
rent. The  rifle  balls  from  the  garrison  struck  down  the  fore- 
most assailants  of  the  little  band;  and,  amid  a  lire  from  friends 
and  foes,  Boone  and  his  fellow  deputies  bounded  back  into  the 
station,  with  the  exception  of  one  man,  unhurt.  Now  that  the 
treaty  project  had  failed,  the  enemy  opened  a  hot  fire  upon  the 
fortifications,  which  they  continued  ten  days,  though  to  no 
purpose.  On  the  twentieth  of  August  the  Indians  were  forced 
unwillingly  to  retire,  having  lost  thirty-seven  of  their  number 
and  wasted  a  vast  ainount  of  powder  and  lead.  The  garrison 
picked  up  from  the  ground,  after  their  departure,  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  pounds  of  their  bullets. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  this  year  a  fort  was  built  upon  the 
bunks  of  the  Ohio,  a  little  below  Fort  Pitt,  called  Fort  Mcin- 
tosh. From  this  point  it  was  intended  to  operate  in  reducing 
Detroit,  where  mischief  was  still  brewing.  Indeed  the  natives 
were  now  more  united  than  ever  against  the  Americans.  The 
Senecas,  Cayugas,  Mingoes,  Wyandots,  Onondagas,  Ottawas, 
Ojibwas,  Shawanoes  and  Delawares  were  all  in  the  league. 
Congress  now,  perhaps  for  the  first  time,  fully  saw  the  difficul- 
ties that  were  likely  to  arise  fVom  the  native  tribes. 

In  the  north  and  west  a  new  cause  of  trouble  was  arising. 
Of  the  six  tribes  of  the  Iroquois,  the  Senecas,  Mohawks,  Cay- 
ugas and  Onondagas  had  been  from  the  outset  inclined  to 
Britain,  though  all  of  these  but  the  Mohawks  had  now  and 
then  tried  to  persuade  the  Americans  to  the  contrary.  During 
the  winter  of  1778-9  the  Onondagas,  who  had  been  for  a  while 
nearly  neutral,  were  suspected  by  the  Americans  of  deception, 
and  this  suspicion  having  become  nearly  knowledge,  a  band 
was  sent  early  in  April  to  destroy  their  towns  and  take  such 
of  them  as  could  be  taken  pi'isoners.  The  work  appointed  was 
done,  and  the  villages  and  wealth  of  the  poor  savages  were 
annihilated.  This  sudden  act  of  severity  startled  all.  The 
Oneidas,  hitherto  faithful  to  their  neutrality,  were  alarmed  lest 
tlie  next  blow  should  fall  on  them,  and  it  was  only  after  a  full 
explanation  that  their  fears  were  quieted.  As  for  the  Onon- 
dagas, it  was  not  to  be  hoped  that  they  would  sit  down  under 
such  treatment ;  and  we  find,  accordingly,  that  some  hundred 


I^v 


184 


THE    UVES  OF   FONTIAO  AIO)  TRCDMBEU: 


i'fi'.' 


of  their  warriors  were  at  once  in  tlie  field,  and  from  that  time 
forward  a  portion  of  their  nation  remained  hostile  to  the 
United  Colonies.** 

The  Americans  now  determined  to  invade  the  country  of  the 
Six  Nations,  which  they  did,  defeating  a  large  number  of  these 
Indians  at  Newton.  From  this  point  they  were  driven  from 
village  to  village,  and  their  whole  country  was  laid  waste. 
Houses  were  burned,  crops  and  orchards  destroyed,  and  every 
thing  done  to  render  the  country  uninhabitable  that  could  be 
thought  of.  Forty  towns  were  burnt,  and  more  than  one  ban- 
dred  and  sixty  thouBand  bushels  of  com  destroyed.  This  attack 
was  conducted  by  Gk)neral  Sullivan  He  effected  a  complete 
conquest  of  the  Indian  country,  but  passed  Niagara  without 
attacking  it. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  March,  1779,  Washington  wrote  to 
Oolonel  Daniel  Brodhead,  who  had  succeeded  Mcintosh  at  Fort 
Pitt,  that  an  incursion  into  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations  was 
in  preparation,  and  that  in  connection  therewith  it  might  be 
advisable  for  a  force  to  ascend  the  Alleghany  to  Kittaning,  and 
thence  to  Venango,  and  having  fortified  both  points,  to  strike 
the  Mingoes  and*  Munceys  upon  French  Creek  and  elsewhere 
in  that  neighborhood,  and  thus  aid  General  Sullivan  in  the 
great  blow  he  was  to  give  by  his  march  up  the  Susquehanna. 
Brodhead  proceeded  up  the  Alleghany,  burned  the  towns  of  the 
Indians  and  destroyed  their  crops. 

The  immediate  result  of  this  and  other  equally  prompt  and 
severe  measures  was  to  bring  the  Delawares,  Shawanoes,  and 
even  the  Wyandots,  to  Fort  Pitt,  on  a  treaty  of  peace.  There 
Brodhead  met  them  on  his  return  in  September,  and  a  long 
conference  was  held  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  parties.f 

During  this  summer  an  expedition  was  sent  against  the 
Shawanoes  of  the  Miami,  but  it  failed  to  accomplish  the  end 
originally  designed,  and  the  fierce  Indians  of .  this  tribe  were 
unsubdued. 

In  the  following  year,  1780,  Kentucky  was  invaded  by  a  large 


*  Stone's  Works, 
f  Western  Annals. 


t\ 


OBf  THB  BORDKR  WAB8  OF  TWO   OENTURIBS. 


185 


force  of  Indiftns  and  Oanadians,  commanded  by  Oolonel  Byrd, 
t  British  officer.  To  the  number  of  six  hundred,  with  two 
field  pieces,  they  marched  up  the  valley  of  the  Lioking,  and  first 
appeared  before  Ruddle's  Station,  on  the  twenty-second  of  June, 
demanding  an  instant  surrender.  As  the  stockades  were  pow- 
erless against  cannon,  the  demand  was  complied  with;  but  the 
invaders,  for  some  reason,  left  the  country  immediately. 


<. 


li     I 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 


Exi'RDmON  AOAtNBT  MOKAVIAIf  INDIANS— ThR  MaSRAOKR  — TKUKtUI.K 
PATE  OF  CouONKFi  CRAWFORD— ATTACK  OF  BrYAMT'H  STATION  — De. 
FEAT  OF  THE  FRONTIER  MkN. 

Let  us  return  once  more  to  the  villages  of  the  Christian 
Indians,  commonly  called  the  Moravians.  In  1781  they  suffered 
from  both  Americans  and  from  hostile  Indians,  and  in  conse- 
quence were  compelled  to  leave  their  home  on  the  Muskingum 
and  go  to  Sandusky;  but  in  February,  1782,  they  returned  to 
the  number  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  This  act  revived 
the  hatred  of  the  frontier  men,  who  had  now  learned  to  sus- 
pect them  of  treachery ;  and  Colonel  Williamson  in  March 
set  out  with  a  party  of  about  one  hundred  men,  without  any 
authority,  and  made  a  rapid  march  to  the  Muskingum.  The 
professed  object  was  to  capture  and  remove  the  Christian  Del- 
awares,  and  destroy  their  houses  and  fields.  A  number  of  peo- 
ple were  at  work  in  their  corn-fields  when  this  hostile  force 
appeared,  who  ran  to  the  village  of  Gnadenhutten.  Several 
men  and  one  woman  were  killed.  Tliey  were  told  it  was  the 
intention  to  take  them  to  Pittsburgh,  where  they  would  be 
protected,  and  were  directed  to  enter  two  houses  and  remain 
for  the  night.  The  commander  of  the  party  then  proposed  to 
leave  it  to  his  men  to  decide  by  vote  their  fate,  and  orders  were 
given  that  those  who  were  for  sparing  their  lives  should  step 
out  in  front.  Of  some  ninety  men  present  only  seventeen  or 
eighteen  voted  to  spare  their  lives  I  This  sentence  was  then 
announced  to  the  people.  They  spent  the  night  in  prayer  and 
in  singing  hymns.  In  the  morning  the  terrible  slaughter  com- 
menced. No  resistance  was  made.  Guns,  tomahawks  and 
hatchets  were  used.     Two  only  escaped.     One,  a  young  man 

(186) 


OK,   TIIK    iiOKDKK    WAKM  OV  TWO  CKNTUKIMB. 


187 


kboat  seventeen  years  of  age,  wouti<1o(l,  bleeding  and  scalped, 
crept  into  the  buHJteH  and  lived ;  another  crawled  under  the 
floor,  where  he  lay  until  the  blood  of  his  murdered  relations 
poured  in  Btreams  upon  hiin.^  The  buildingH  wereHet  on  fire, 
and  the  bodies  partially  consumed.  Colonel  Williamson  and 
hilt  men  returned  to  receive  the  exocrHtions  of  hib  countrymen. 
Both  the  civil  and  military  authorities  of  the  State  and  nation 
reprobated  the  direful  deed.  Forty  men,  twenty-two  women, 
and  thirty-two  children  were  thus  destroyed. 

It  was  in  March,  1782,  that  this  great  murder  was  committed; 
and  another  expedition  was  at  once  organized  to  invade  the 
towns  of  the  Moravian  Delawares  and  Wyandots,  upon  the 
Sandusky.  No  Indian  was  to  be  spared  ;  friend  or  foe,  every 
red  nmn  was  to  diel  The  commander  of  the  expedition  was 
Colonel  William  Crawford.  His  troops,  numbering  nearly  five 
hundred  men,  marched  in  June  to  the  Sandusky,  uninterrupted. 
There  they  found  the  towns  deserted,  and  the  savages  on  the 
alert.  A  battle  ensued,  and  the  whites  were  forced  to  retreat. 
In  their  retreat  many  left  the  main  body,  and  nearly  all  who 
did  80  perished.  Of  Crawford's  own  fate  we  give  the  follow- 
ing account  by  Dr.  Knight : 

"  Monday  morning,  the  tenth  of  June,  we  were  paraded  to 
march  to  Sandusky,  about  thirty-three  miles  distant.  They 
had  eleven  prisoners  of  us,  and  four  scalps,  the  Indians  being 
seventeen  in  number. 

"Colonel  Crawford  was  very  desirous  to  see  a  certain  Simon 
Girty,  who  lived  with  the  Indians,  and  was  on  this  account 
permitted  to  go  to  town  the  same  night,  with  two  warriors  to 
guard  him,  having  orders  at  the  same  time  to  pass  by  the  place 
where  the  colonel  had  turned  out  his  horse,  that  they  might, 
if  possible,  find  him.  The  rest  of  us  were  taken  as  far  as  the 
old  town,  which  was  within  eight  miles  of  the  new. 

"Tuesday  morning,  the  eleventh.  Colonel  Crawford  was 
brought  out  to  us,  on  purpose  to  be  marched  with  the  other 
prisoners.  I  asked  the  colonel  if  he  had  seen  Mr.  Girty.  He 
told  me  he  had,  and  that  Girty  had  promised  to  do  everything 
in  his  power  for  him,  but  that  the  Indians  were  very  much 

•  Western  Annals. 


188 


TBX   UVHi  (IF    PONTIAO   AMD  TMnrMBBIi: 


enraged  against  the  prinonen,  particularly  Captain  Pipe,  one 
of  the  chiefs.  lie  likewise  tuld  me  that  Girty  had  informed 
him  that  his  son-in-law,  Colonel  Harrison,  and  his  nephew, 
William  Crawford,  were  made  prisoners  by  the  ShuwanocH,  hut 
had  ))een  pardoned.  This  (^aptain  Pipe  had  come  from  the 
town  al)out  an  hour  before  Colonel  Crawford,  and  had  painted 
all  the  prisoners'  faces  black.  As  he  was  painting  me  he  told 
me  [  should  go  to  the  Shawanoes  towns  and  see  my  friends. 
When  the  colonel  arrived  he  painted  him  black  also,  told  iiim 
he  was  glad  to  see  him,  and  that  he  would  have  him  shnved 
when  he  came  to  see  his  fViends  at  the  Wyandot  town.  When 
we  marched  the  colonel  and  I  were  kept  back,  between  Pipe 
and  Wyngeniin,  the  two  Delaware  chiefs ;  the  other  nine  pris- 
oners were  sent  forward  with  another  party  of  Indians.  As 
we  went  along  wo  saw  four  of  the  prisoners  lying  by  the  path, 
tomahawked  and  scalped  ;  some  of  them  wore  at  the  distniice 
of  half  a  mile  from  each  other.  When  we  arrived  within  half 
a  mile  of  the  place  where  the  colonel  was  executed  we  overtook 
the  tive  prisoners  that  remained  alive.  Tlie  Indians  had  caused 
them  to  sit  down  on  the  ground,  as  they  did  also  the  colonel 
and  me,  at  some  distance  from  them.  I  was  there  given  in 
charge  to  an  Indian  fellow,  to  be  taken  to  the  Shawanoes 
towns. 

"  In  the  place  where  we  were  made  to  sit  down,  there  was 
a  number  of  squaws  and  boys,  who  fell  on  the  five  prisoners 
and  tomahawked  them.  There  was  a  certain  John  McKinij 
amongst  the  prisoners,  formerly  an  oflBcer  in  the  13th  Vir- 
ginia regiment,  whose  head  an  old  squaw  cut  off,  and  the 
Indians  kicked  it  about  upon  the  ground.  The  young  Indian 
fellows  came  often  where  the  Colonel  and  I  were,  and  dashed 
the  scalps  in  our  faces.  We  were  then  conducted  along 
toward  the  place  where  the  Colonel  was  afterwards  executed; 
when  we  came  within  about  half  a  mile  of  it,  Simon  Girty 
met  us,  with  several  Ij^dians  on  horseback;  he  spoke  to  the 
Colonel,  but  as  I  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  behind, 
could  not  hear  what  passed  between  them. 

"Almost  every  Indian  we  met,  struck  us  either  with  sticks  or 
their  fists.     Girty  waited  till  I  was  brought  up,  and  asked,  was 


OR,   TIIK   ROROKR   WARi  OF  TWO  CKNTUKIIi)*. 


189 


that  thu  D<M;tor?  I  told  him  yei,  and  went  towardit  him, 
ruacliing  out  my  hand,  but  ho  bid  me  begone,  and  called  me  a 
damned  rascal,  upon  which  the  fellows  who  had  me  in  charge 
pnllod  me  along.  Girty  rode  up  after  me  and  told  me  I  waa  to 
go  to  the  Shawanoo  towns. 

'« When  we  went  to  the  fire  the  Golonel  was  stripped  naked, 
ordered  to  sit  down  by  the  tire,  and  then  they  beat  him  with 
gticks  and  their  fists.  Presently  after,  I  was  treated  in  tlie 
game  manner.  They  then  tied  a  rope  to  the  foot  of  a  poHt 
aboat  fifteen  feet  high,  bound  the  Colonel's  hands  behind  hit 
back  and  fastened  the  rope  to  the  ligature  between  his  wrists. 
The  r(>i)e  was  long  enough  for  him  to  sit  down  or  walk  round 
the  post  once  or  twice,  and  return  the  same  way.  The  ( Jolonel 
then  called  to  Girty,  and  asked  if  they  intended  to  burn  himi 
Qirty  answered,  yes.  The  Colonel  said  he  would  take  it  all 
patiently.  Upon  this.  Captain  Pipe,  a  Delaware  chief,  made  a 
epeech  to  the  [ndians,  viz.:  about  thirty  or  forty  men,  and  sixty 
or  seventy  squaws  and  boys. 

"When  the  speech  was  finished  they  all  yelled  a  hideous  and 
hearty  assent  to  what  had  been  said.  Tlie  Indian  men  then 
took  np  their  guns  and  shot  ])owder  into  the  (Colonel's  body, 
from  iiis  feet  as  far  up  as  his  neck.  I  think  that  no  less  than 
seventy  loads  were  discharged  upon  his  naked  body.  Tliey 
then  crowded  about  him,  and  to  the  best  of  my  observation, 
cat  off  hie  •'ra;  when  the  throng  had  dispersed  a  little,  I  saw 
the  blood  ni;'  nng  from  both  sides  of  his  head  in  consequence 
thereof. 

"The  fire  was  six  or  seven  yards  from  the  post  to  which 
the  Colonel  was  tied;  it  was  made  of  small  hickory  poles,  burnt 
quite  through  ill  the  middle,  each  end  of  the  poles  remaining 
about  six  feet  in  length.  Three  or  four  Indians  by  turns 
would  take  up,  individually,  one  of  these  burning  pieces  of 
wood  and  apply  it  to  his  naked  body,  already  burnt  black  with 
the  powder.  These  tormentors  presented  themselves  on  every 
side  of  him  with  the  burning  faggots  and  poles.  Some  of  the 
squaws  took  broad  boards,  upon  which  they  would  carry  a 
quantity  of  burning  coals  and  hot  embers  and  throw  on  him, 


190 


TMK    I.IVKN   or    h)NTlA«'    ANIl   TICiH  MMKII 


t 


■(>  that  in  a  itliort  tiiiiu  liu  liHtJ  nothiiif(  luit  citulM  of  tir«>  hihI  hot 
mIioi  t<)  walk  ii|)on. 

"  In  the  mU\»t  of  thew)  *xtrf»me  torturPM,  h«  oalU'd  to  Hitnon 
G\rty  and  In>^^I  of  him  to  ihoot  him;  hut  Girty  makiii)^  no 
auHwer,  he  nille<l  to  him  aj^iin.  (iirty,  tliun,  hy  way  of  derii. 
ion,  told  the  (yohmol  that  lie  had  no  ^un,  at  the  Hunu!  time 
turning  alM>ut  to  an  Indian  who  wait  behind  him,  laii^luil 
heartily,  and  hy  all  hiii  geHturt'H  Hcemed  delighted  at  the  horrid 
neene. 

"Girty  then  came  up  to  mo  and  hade  me  prepare  for  <lt«ath. 
Ho  Miid,  however,  that  I  waM  not  to  die  at  that  place,  hut  to 
be  burnt  at  tho  Shawanot)  townn.  Fie  swore  hy  d — d  I  need 
not  expect  to  eitcapo  death,  but  Hhuuld  Hutfer  it  in  all  it8  oiiur- 
mitioH. 

"He  then  ohHerved  that  Home  priAonerx  had  given  him  to 
understand,  that  if  our  ^Hsople  had  him  they  would  not  hurt 
him;  for  Iuh  part,  he  said,  he  did  not  l)clieve  it,  hut  deHirtMJto 
know  my  opinion  of  the  matter,  hut  IxMUg  at  the  time  in^reat 
anguinh  and  diHtress  for  the  tormentH  the  Colonel  was  nuifer- 
ing  l)eforo  my  eyes,  at)  well  aH  the  expectation  o£  undergoinj; 
tlie  same  fate  in  two  days,  I  made  little  or  no  answer.  He 
expressed  a  great  deal  of  ill-will  for  Colonel  Gibson,  and  Haiti 
he  was  one  of  his  greatest  enemies,  and  more  to  the  same  pur- 
pose, to  all  which  I  paid  very  little  attention. 

"  Colonel  Crawford,  at  this  period  of  his  suffering,  besought 
the  Almighty  to  have  mercy  on  his  soul,  spoke  very  low,  and 
bore  his  torments  with  the  most  manly  fortitude.  He  con- 
tinned  in  all  the  extremities  of  pain  for  an  hour  and  three- 
quarters  or  two  hours  longer,  as  near  as  I  could  judge,  when  at 
last,  being  almost  exhausted,  he  lay  down  on  his  belly;  they 
then  scalped  him,  and  repeatedly  threw  the  scalp  in  my  face, 
telling  me  "  that  was  my  great  captain."  An  old  squaw  got  a 
board,  took  a  parcel  of  coals  and  ashes  and  laid  them  on  his 
back  and  head,  after  he  had  been  scalped;  he  then  raised  him- 
self upon  his  feet  and  began  to  walk  ronnd  the  post;  they  next 
put  a  burning  stick  to  him  as  usual,  but  he  seemed  more 
insensible  of  pain  than  before. 

"  The  Indian  fellow  who  had  me  in  charge,  now  took  me  away 


OK,    rilK    HilHItKM    WAKM  <»»    IWo   rKN'ri'lilKN. 


m 


t()  Ciiptuiii  l'i|M)*i  liouHt),  niMMtt  tlir«>t>-4|iinrU*rN  nt'  h  iiiilu  from 
the  pliM^M  ot'  tl>"  ('oloiutlV  vxtH'iitioii.  I  WHM  IiouikI  nil  nlK^tt^ 
ami  tliiirt  [>r()vviiU)(l  from  MtMiiii^thu  Imtt  of  tliu  horrid  N^Ksotiiule. 
Next  iiioriiii%  \w\uif  Juno  twt^lfth,  tliu  Indlnii  iintioii  inu, 
t>ainti><l  uw  hlnnlc,  and  wt>  not  off  for  t)i<*  Hhnwnnot)  town,  which 
he  tuld  inu  WHM  Koini'whnt  U;hm  thnii  forty  in! U^m  dJHtHnt  from 
timt  pittcu.  We  M<M)n  cHniu  to  tho  M|Hit  whttru  the  Oolonel  hm\ 
btfii  hurnt,  m  It  whh  pHrtly  in  our  wny;  I  muw  hiti  iMinoH  lying 
Mmup^t  tho  runmins  of  the  tiro,  HlinoHt  burnt  to  iMhuM;  I  Bup> 
nm  utter  ho  wum  dead  they  laid  hiti  Inxly  on  the  fire.  The 
Iiuiiiiii  told  me  that  whh  my  hi^  (Captain,  and  ^ave  tho  Hcalp 

halloo." 

Siioh  were  dome  of  the  more  important  incident!)  of  border 
warthro  in  17H1-82.  Ihit  xtill  the  fury  of  the  Indiana  waa  by 
no  tiicuiiH  H]K>nt.  In  the  middle  of  Au|(UHt,  1782,  tho  atorm 
burnt  uround  Hryant*a  Station.  About  aix  hundred  Indians 
appeared  on  tlie  fifteenth  and  made  a  de8|)erate  effort  to  cap- 
turt'  the  fort.  Tlie  garriaon  had  heard,  on  the  day  previous, 
of  the  defeat  of  a  party  of  whitea  not  fur  diatant,  and  during 
that  iii^ht  were  buay  in  making  preparationa  to  march,  with 
daylx'i'ak,  to  the  aaaiatance  of  their  neighlH>ra.  Mr.  Jamea  H. 
Pt'ck,  the  compiler  of  the  "  Weatern  Annala,"  infonna  ua  that 
all  night  long  their  ])reparationa  continued,  and  what  little 
n>m\([  the  aavagea  made  aa  they  approached,  waa  unheard  amid 
the  euniparative  tumult  within.  Day  atole  through  the  foreat; 
the  woodamen  roae  from  their  brief  alum()era,  took  their  arms, 
and  were  on  the  point  of  openings  their  gatea  to  march,  when 
the  crack  of  riflea,  mingled  with  yells  and  howla,  told  them  in 
an  instant  how  narrowly  they  had  eacAped  captivity  or  death. 
Rushing  to  the  loop-holea  and  crannies,  they  saw  about  a  hun- 
dred red  men,  firing  and  gesticulating  in  full  view  of  the  fort. 
The  young  bloods,  full  of  rage  at  Estill's  sad  defeat,  wished 
instantly  to  rush  forth  upon  the  attackers,  but  there  was  some- 
thing in  the  manner  of  the  Indians  so  peculiar,  that  the  older 
heads  at  once  suspected  a  trick,  and  looked  anxiously  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  fort,  where  they  judged  the  main  body  of 
the  enemy  were  probably  concealed.  Nor  were  they  deceived. 
The  savages  were  led  by  Simon  Girty.    This  white  savage  had 


IM 


TIIK   l.ivn  or    lltN-HAO    ANI>  TKCUMUlli: 


propoMd,  by  %n  ftttA<*k  on  one  ilda  of  the  iUtlon  with  a  »tnt\\ 
p«rt  of  his  fon^t),  to  drew  out  tlio  gMriton,  aiid  thon  intanueil, 
with  tlie  inttiii  IxMiy,  to  full  ii|ioti  tho  otiiar  sldo,  Hixi  Murura  tht 
fort;  but  lii«  plan  wm  <i«fu»t«Nl  by  tite  ovoraoting  of  hit  nd 
allietf  and  tlio  Ukgtcity  of  lii*  opponent*.  Theee  oppononu, 
however,  had  ttill  •  lad  dlttloulty  to  encoantor;  tlie  fott  wm 
not  supplied  with  water,  and  the  spring  waa  at  •ome  di«tAiK«, 
and  in  the  inimo<liato  vicinity  of  tlie  thioicet  in  whioh  It  wm 
•up|x)ftod  the  main  force  of  the  Indians  lay  concealed.  Tlie 
danger  of  going  or  sending  for  water  was  plain,  the  aUolute 
necessity  of  having  it  was  equally  so;  and  how  it  could  b« 
procured,  was  a  question  which  made  many  a  head  shake,  manj 
a  heart  sink.  At  length  a  plan,  equally  sagacious  and  bold, 
was  hit  upon,  and  carried  into  execution  by  as  great  an  exer- 
tion of  womanly  prosomro  of  mind  as  can,  perhaps,  bo  fouod 
•n  record.  If  tho  Huvagos  were,  as  was  supposed,  coni«aled 
near  the  spring,  it  whs  l>olioved  they  would  not  show  them* 
selves  until  they  had  reason  to  believe  their  trick  had  succeeded, 
and  the  garrison  had  left  the  fort  on  the  other  side.  It  wm, 
therefore,  proposed  to  all  the  females  to  go  with  their  buekeU 
to  the  spring,  fill  them,  and  return  to  the  fort,  before  any  miIIv 
was  made  against  the  attacking  party.  The  danger  to  which 
they  must  be  exposed  was  not  to  be  concealed,  but  it  was  nrfi;ed 
upon  them  that  this  must  be  done,  or  all  perish;  and  that  if 
they  were  steady,  tho  Indians  would  not  molest  them;  and  to 
the  honor  of  their  sex,  be  it  naid,  they  went  forth  in  a  body, 
and  directly  under  live  hundred  riHes,  tilled  their  buckets,  and 
returned  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  suggest  to  tho  quick- 
sighted  savages  that  their  presence  in  the  thicket  was  susptHtted. 
This  done,  a  small  number  of  the  garrison  were  sunt  forth 
against  the  attackers,  with  orders  to  multiply  their  numbers  to 
the  ear  by  constant  firing,  while  the  main  body  of  the  whites 
took  their  places  to  repel  the  anticipated  rush  of  those  in  con- 
cealment. The  plan  succeeded  perfectly.  The  whole  body  of 
Indiana  rushed  from  their  ambuscade  as  they  heard  tho  firing 
upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  fort,  and  were  received  by  a  fair, 
well-directed  discharge  of  all  the  rifles  letlt  within  the  station. 
Astonished  and  horror-stricken,  the  assailants  turned  to  the 


OM,    IIIK    IKM     iKN    WAMM   (!»'   TWO   (IKNTrNIKfl. 


lua 


forcot  it^niii  HH  qiiickl}-  hn  tlicy  liiul  \vt\  it,  Imviiiff  liMt  iimny  of 
their  iiiiinlii'rK.  In  tlio  iiiorniii);,  an  moom  an  thu  proMuncu  of  tiir 
liiiiiun*  WAN  AMocrtAiiuNi,  aim!  iM^fort)  tiinir  nunibpni  woru  mil- 
IMH'tcd.  two  ini<itiM«nj(vni  IiacI  Itrckuii  tliroii^li  tliifir  lino,  IwAring 
to  Lcxiiif^ton  tiilin)^  of  thu  nivgo  of  ltryAnt*«  NtAtion,  And 
uniting  HMccor.  AMiatAnco  (simo  Almiit  two  in  tlio  AfliTniNin; 
nixttfn  ni«n  iH^in^  niountoil.  And  thirty  or  nioru  on  fcN>t.  Tito 
ituvu)p>M  ux|NK*t(Ml  thoir  ArrivAl,  And  pn^pArud  to  dvotroy  thorn, 
liiit  tiio  homoinon,  by  rapid  ridin^i^,  And  cnvoUipod  in  dunt, 
nwlifd  tho  fort  nnhiirintHl,  And  of  tlio  f(K)tn)on,  Aftur  An  honr'i 
liani  H);htin^,  only  two  wore  killo<l  And  four  woundod.  Tlio 
ln(liiiii*i»  conrAgo  rAn^ly  iup{K)rtii  him  through  lon^continucd 
cxrrtiori;  And  Oirty  found  hii  men  so  fArdi8hoArt(>n«'d  hy  thoir 
tHitiiroM,  tliAt  l)oforo  night  they  tAlkod  of  AhAudonitig  the  siego. 
At'tcr  Httenipting  to  terrify  thu  gArrison  into  a  nurronder,  thoy 
retired  into  the  \vood«  in  tho  hope  titAt  when  further  AHHititAneo 
arrived  At  BryAnt'ii  StAtion,  a  pArty  would  puntuc  thont,  And 
till!  into  their  AinhuHciideM.  in  this  ho])o  they  were  not 
(iecoived.  lioono  And  his  pArty  Arrived  At  tho  StAtion  on  tho 
eiglitecMith,  iind  ininuMlJAtoly  stArtod  After  tho  enemy.  Tho 
trail  WAS  phiin,  And  led  thorn  to  tho  I/>wor  Dluo  T^iokA,  where 
the  Mivuges  lay  concoAlod  in  groAt  numbers.  Hero  thoy 
attiu<ke<l  the  IndiAns,  but  were  routed  with  the  loss  ol  Hoventy- 
Rcvtii  men  killiMl  And  taken  priHonors,  And  twelve  wounded. 
Tlie  tew  nil')  escAjMxl  tho  slAUghtor  fled  in  terror  to  tho  sottle- 

IIICMltrt. 

18 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

The  Nokthwkht  TEiiuiTiniy  — Skktcu  of  Autiiuu  St.  Claiu  —  Hkview 

OF  TIIKTREATIEa  WITH  TIIK   INDIANS—  INDIAN  Si'KKCIIEB. 


Leaving  the  frontier  settlements  of  the  provinces,  or  now 
the  united  colonies,  we  will  pass  on  to  notice  the  events  tlmt 
transpired  in  the  Northwest  Territory,  which  was  erected  uixlcr 
the  ordinance  of  1787.  It  is  proper  to  state  here,  however, 
that  in  making  this  pro<j;re88  in  the  narrative  we  are  obli^'wl 
to  omit  the  (letails  of  many  contests  with  the  Indians  in  Oliio 
and  Kentucky,  and  the  several  treaties  which  resulted.  Hut 
these  were  of  an  ordinary  character.  Without  any  considerable 
amount  of  bloodshed  all  the  savages  in  these  States  were  sub- 
dued, the  boundary  lines  of  tlie'.r  country  were  determined  and 
a  treaty  of  peace  concluded. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1788,  Gen.  Arthur  St.  Clair,  who  had 
been  appointed  the  lirst  governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory 
by  Congress,  ai-rived  /it  Marietta  and  put  the  machinery  of  the 
new  government  in  motion.  He  organized  the  government 
under  the  first  "grade"  of  the  ordinance,*  the  government 

*  I  give  the  ordinance  In  fiUl  as  ToUowb,  ns  It  Is  the  cornur-.^tono  of  Uie  ConstitutionB 
of  the  Northwestern  Stntes,  and  Ib,  therefore,  worthy  of  preservation : 

An  OnoiNANCB  fok  tub  Govbbnmknt  of  tub  Territory  of  tub  UNrTBn  States, 
NoBTHWKsT  OP  THE  Ouio  KivBR.  —  Be  it  ordained  by  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled,  That  the  said  territory,  for  the  purposes  of  temporary  government,  be  ono 
district,  8Ul)Ject,  however,  to  be  divided  into  two  districts,  as  future  circumstances  may, 
In  the  opinion  of  Congress,  make  it  expedient. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  the  estates,  both  of  resident  atid  non- 
resident proprietors  In  said  territory,  dying  intestate,  shall  descend  to,  and  be  distribiUed 
amonc;  their  children  and  the  descendants  of  a  deceased  child,  in  equal  parts;  the 
descendants  of  a  deceased  child,  or  grand  child,  to  take  the  share  of  their  deceased 
parent  In  equal  parts  among  them ;  and  where  there  shall  bo  no  children  or  dcsccndniits, 
then  In  equal  parts  to  the  next  of  kin  In  equal  degree;  and,  among  collaterals,  the 
children  of  a  deceased  brother  or  sister  of  the  intestate  shall  have,  in  equal  parts  among 
them,  their  deceased  parents'  share;  nnd  there  shall,  in  no  case,  be  a  distinction  between 
kindred  of  the  whole  and  half-blood;  saving.  In  all  cases,  to  the  widow  of  the  intestate, 
her  third  part  of  the  real  estate  for  life,  and  one-third  part  of  the  personal  estate;  and 

(194) 


OR,   TIIR   BOUnKR   WARS  OF  TWO   OENTURira. 


195 


coiifiirttlng  of  n  governor,  secretary  niul  three  judges,  who,  con- 
jointly, constituted  the  law-making  power.  Winthrop  Sar- 
gent was  appointed  secretary,  and  Samuel  II.  Parsons,  James 
II.  Vernum  and  John  Cleves  Synunes  judges.  In  September, 
tiie  governor  and  judges  prepared  and  adopted  a  code  of  laws. 
Arthur  St.  Clair  was  the  first  governor  of  the  Northwest 
Territory,  and  as  his  administration  forms  a  conspicuous  part 
of  the  narrative,  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life,  in  this  connection,- 
will  not  be  out  of  place.  His  portntit  also  appears  on  another 
pivge.  lie  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  from  which  country  he 
twne  to  the  British  colonies  of  North  America  in  1756.     He 


tbiB  Inw,  rolativo  to  doscdiitB  and  dowor,  shall  remain  In  Aill  force  until  altered  by  the 
I,ui:lHli)turo  of  the  district.  And,  until  the  governor  and  Judges  thall  adopt  laws  as 
luTclnnrtur  mentioned,  estaten  In  the  said  territory  may  bo  devised  or  bequeathed  by 
wlllx  In  writing,  signed  and  soaled  by  him  or  her,  In  whom  the  festuto  may  bo,  (being  of 
fiill  n<Te,;and  attested  by  three  witnesses:  and  real  estates  maybe  conveyed  by  leas* 
iiiul  relunsu.  or  bargain  and  sale,  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  by  the  person,  being  of 
fiill  iit,'"<  'i  whom  the  estate  may  bo,  and  attested  by  two  witnesses,  provided  such  wills 
be  duly  proved  and  such  c/inveyances  be  acknowledged,  or  the  execution  thereof  duly 
proved,  and  bo  recorded  within  one  year  after,  proper  magistrates,  courts  and  registers 
slmll  be  appointed  for  that  purpose;  and  personal  property  may  bo  transferred  by  deliv- 
ery; siiving.  however,  to  the  French  and  Canadian  Inhabitants,  and  other  settlers  of  the 
Kufikiixkias,  St.  Vincents  and  the  neighboring  villages  who  have  heretofore  professed 
themselves  citizens  of  Vlrtj;inla,  their  laws  and  customs  now  In  force  among  them, 
relative  to  tho  descent  and  conveyance  of  property. 

He  it  ordained  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  there  shall  ho  appointed,  from  time  to 
time,  by  Congress,  a  governor,  whoso  commission  shall  continue  In  force  for  three  years, 
unless  sooner  revoked  by  Congress;  hn  shall  reside  In  the  district  and  have  a  fk-eehold 
estate  therein  in  one  tjioueand  acres  of  land,  while  in  the  exercise  of  his  office. 

There  shall  bo  appointed,  from  time  to  time,  by  Congress,  a  secretary,  whose' com- 
luiKHion  sliall  continue  in  force  for  four  years,  unless  sooner  revoked;  he  shall  reside  in 
the  district  and  have  a  freehold  estate  therein  in  live  hundred  acres  of  land,  while  In  the 
exercise  of  his  office;  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  ond  preserve  tho  acts  and  lows  passed 
hy  the  Lojrislatnre,  and  tho  public  records  of  the  district,  and  tho  proceedings  of  tho 
irovcnior  In  his  executive  department,  and  transmit  authentic  copies  of  such  acts  and 
priK'iH'diiigs,  every  six  months,  to  the  secretary  of  Congress.  There  shall  also  be 
iippointed  a  court  to  consist  of  three  Judges,  any  two  of  whom  to  form  a  court,  who  shall 
have  a  common  law  Jurisdiction  and  reside  In  the  district,  and  have  each  therein  a  free- 
hold  estate  in  live  hundred  acres  of  land  while  In  tho  exercise  of  their  offices;  and  tholr 
ooinmlssions  shall  continue  In  force  during  good  behavior. 

The  governor  and  Judges,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  adopt  and  pnbllsh  in  the  dis- 
trict such  lawH  of  tho  original  States,  criminal  and  civil,  as  may  bo  necessary  and  best 
suited  to  tho  circumstances  of  the  district,  and  report  them  to  Congress  from  time  to 
time;  which  laws  shall  bo  in  force  in  the  district  until  tho  organization  of  the  General 
Assembly  therein,  unless  disapproved  of  by  Congress;  but  afterwards  the  Legislature 
shall  have  authority  to  alter  them  as  they  shall  think  flt. 

Tho  governor,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia,  appoint 
and  commission  all  officers  in  the  same  below  the  rank  of  general  officers;  all  general 
ofllcors  shall  be  appointed  and  commissioned  by  Congress. 

Previous  to  tho  organization  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  governor  shall  appoint 
inch  magistrates  and  other  civil  officers,  in  each  county  or  township,  as  he  shall  find 


190 


TIIK   I-nHH   OF    1N)NTIA0    AND   TKOl'MHKH: 


joined  tlic  lloyal  Aiuoricaiis  or  Sixtieth  Kegiment,  and  served 
under  Gen.  Anilierst  at  the  taking  of  ]x)ni8burg  in  1758.  He 
carried  a  standard  at  the  storming  and  eaptnre  ol'  Quebec, 
under  Gen.  Wolfe,  in  1759.  Immediately  after  the  peace  of 
1703,  he  settled  in  Ligonier  Valley,  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Being  a  firm  friend  of  liberty  and  the  rights  of  the  colonies, 
he  received  from  Congress  the  commission  of  cAlonel,  and 
joined  the  American  army  with  a  regiment  of  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  Having  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major 
general,  he  was  tried  by  a  court  martial,  in  1778,  for  evaeuat- 


lUici'Mnni-v  for  tlio  pruserviitl*!!  of  tho  peace  oiid  good  order  In  thu  hhiiip.  Aftur  the  Ocn- 
oral  Ai<»iMnbl.v  uliiill  bo  orgnnlzud,  thu  powors  and  diillos  of  iiiii«l«trali'«  and  olhur  civil 
otHci'rH  xliall  bo  ru;;ulatod  and  dollnud  by  t!iu  said  aH«iunil)ly;  but  all  niiiuUtratuti  and 
other  civil  otlluerit,  not  hurelu  otherwlnu  directed,  dlinll,  during  the  coiitlnuauco  of 
this  teiiipotary  govorninont,  be  appointed  by  the  governor. 

For  ilio  preventlou  of  crimes  and  InJiiricH,  the  lawH  to  be  adopted  or  inadu  Hhall  have 
force  in  all  partH  of  the  diBtrlct,  and  for  the  execution  of  proceym,  criminal  and  civil, 
the  governor  xliall  make  proper  divlHlonit  thereof:  and  he  ehall  proci^ed,  from  time  to 
time,  an  circMmiiianceii  may  re(|iiire, 4o  lay  out  the  partn  of  the  dlHlrict  in  which  the 
Indian  titles  Hliali  havt*  been  extinguished,  into  counties  and  townHhips,  enbject,  how- 
over,  to  such  alterations  as  may  thereafter  be  made  by  the  Legitiiature. 

8u  soon  as  thi^-c  kIuiII  be  live  thoiisand  free  male  liihabitantH  of  full  age  in  the  dlntrict, 
ai>on  giving  proof  thereof  to  the  governor,  they  shall  receive  authority,  with  time  and 
place,  to  elect  representatives  from  thoir  counties  or  townsliips  to  represent  them  in  the 
General  Assembly:  Proridml,  That  for  every  live  hundred  free  male  Inhabitants,  thi're 
shall  bo  ono  representative,  and  so  on  progressively  with  the  number  of  free  male  iiiliab- 
Hants,  shall  the  right  of  representation  increase,  until  the  number  of  representatives 
shall  amount  to  twonty-flvo;  after  which  the  number  and  proportion  of  representatives 
shall  bo  regulated  by  tho  Legislature:  Provided,  Tliat  no  |)orson  bo  eligible  or  qualitled 
to  act  as  a  representative  unless  ho  shall  have  been  a  citl/en  of  ouo  of  the  United  States 
throe  years  and  be  a  resident  in  the  district,  or  unless  ho  shall  have  resided  in  the  district 
three  years;  and,  in  either  case,  shall  likewise  hold  In  his  own  right,  in  fee  simple,  two 
uundrod  acres  of  land  within  the  same:  Proridcdy  also.  That  a  ireehold  In  tlfty  acres 
of  land  in  thu  district,  having  been  a  citizen  of  ono  of  the  States,  and  being  resident  in 
tho  district,  or  the  like  freehold  and  two  years  residence  in  the  district,  shall  bo  ncces- 
aary  to  qualify  a  man  as  an  elector  of  a  representative. 

Tho  ropresenttttives  thus  elcctod  shall  serve  for  the  term  of  two  years;  and,  in  case  of 
the  death  of  a  representative  or  removal  from  ofttce,  the  governor  shall  issue  a  writ  to  the 
county  or  township  for  which  he  was  a  member,  to  elect  another  in  his  stead,  to  serve  for 
the  reeid'ie  of  the  term. 

Tho  Qonoral  Assembly,  or  Legislature,  shall  consist  of  the  Governor,  Legislative 
Council  and  a  House  of  Represontatives.  The  Legislative  Council  shall  consist  of  five 
members,  to  continue  in  ofllcc  Ave  years,  uuloss  sooner  removed  by  Congress,  any  three 
of  whom  to  be  a  quorum;  and  the  members  of  tho  Council  shall  be  nominated  and 
appointed  in  tlio  following  manner,  to  wit:  As  soon  as  representatives  shall  be  elected, 
tho  governor  shall  appoint  a  time  and  place  for  them  to  moot  together;  and  when  met 
they  shall  nominate  ten  persons,  residents  in  the  district,  and  each  possessed  of  a  free- 
hold in  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  return  thoir  names  to  Congress;  five  of  whom 
Congress  shall  appoint  and  commission  to  scr>-e  as  aforesaid;  and  whenever  a  vacancy 
Shall  happen  in  the  Council,  by  death  or  removal  ft-om  otttce,  the  House  of  Represent*- 


OR,   TIIK    nOKDKR    WARS   OF   TWO   CKNTURIKS. 


197 


ing  TieoTulei'oga  nrul  IVfount  Independence,  und  uimninionsly 
ac(iuitted  with  the  highest  honors. 

lie  remained  in  the  service  until  the  peace.  Mr.  Peck,  in 
writing  of  this  man,  trutlit'ully  says:  "He  was  rigid,  some 
thought  arl)itrary,  in  his  government,  and,  therefore,  unpop- 
ular, hut  ho  was  scrupulously  honest  —  had  no  talent  for 
speculation,  and  died  poor." 

In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  St.  Clair,  in  referring  to  himself, 
remarks:  "  In  the  year  1780,  I  entered  into  the  public  service 
in  civil  life,  and  was  a  member  of  Congress,  and  President  of 
that  body,  when  it  was  determined  to  erect  a  government  in 


tlvcH  shall  nomlnato  twu  porHoiis,  qiiuliUml  iig  nforcBaid,  for  each  vacancy,  und  rutiirn 
their  nnmuH  to  CongrosM,  ono  of  whom  CongrusH  alinll  appoint  and  comnilsBion  for  tlio 
residue  of  the  term.  And  every  live  yoorn,  four  months  at  least  boforo  the  expiration  of 
the  time  of  service  of  th'!  members  of  the  Council,  the  said  House  shitlt  nominate  ten 
perilous,  (luulltled  as  aforesaid,  nnd  return  their  names  to  Congress,  Ave  of  whom  Con- 
l^csB  shall  appoint  and  comnilHsion  to  serve  as  members  of  the  Council  flvo  years, 
unless  sooner  removed.  And  the  governor,  Legislative  Council  and  House  of  Itepro- 
lentatives,  xhiill  have  authority  to  nial(C  laws  In  all  cnses,  for  the  good  government  of 
the  district,  not  repugnant  to  the  principles  and  articles  in  this  ordinance  established 
and  declared.  And  all  bills,  having  passed  by  n  majority  in  *.ho  House  und  by  a  majority 
In  the  Council,  shall  be  referred  to  the  governor  for  his  assent;  but  no  bill,  or  legisla- 
tive act  whatever,  shall  be  of  any  force  without  his  assent.  The  governor  shall  have 
power  to  convene,  prorogue  nnd  dissolve  the  General  Assembly,  when,  in  his  o|)lnton, 
it  shall  bo  expedient. 

The  governor.  Judges,  legislative  council,  secretary,  and  such  other  olllcere  as 
Congress  shall  appoint  In  the  district,  shall  take  an  oath  or  afllrmatlon  of  lldclity  and  of 
ofllce;  the  governor  before  the  President  of  Congress,  nnd  all  other  oftlccrs  before  tlio 
Governor.  As  soon  as  a  Leglsiatuni  shall  bo  formed  In  the  district,  the  Council  and 
House  assembled  In  ono  room,  sh.iU  have  authority,  by  joint  ballot,  to  electa  delegate 
to  CiniL'ress,  who  hliall  have  a  sent  In  Congress,  with  a  right  of  debating,  but  not  of 
Voting,  during  this  tempoinry  government. 

And,  alter  extending  the  fundamental  principles  of  civil  and  religions  liberty,  which 
form  the  bnsls  whereon  these  republics,  their  laws  and  constitutions  are  erected;  to  llx 
and  establish  those  principles  as  the  basis  of  all  laws,  constitutions  and  governments, 
which  forever  hereafter  shall  be  formed  in  the  said  territory;  to  provide  also  for  the 
establishment  of  States,  and  permanent  government  therein,  and  for  their  admission  to 
II  share  in  the  federal  councils  on  an  eciual  footing  with  the  original  States,  at  as  early 
periods  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  general  interest : 

It  is  hereby  ordained  and  declared  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  the  following  arti- 
cles shall  be  considered  as  articles  of  compact  between  the  original  States  and  the 
people  and  States  in  said  territory,  nnd  forever  remain  unalterable,  nnless  by  common 
consent,  to-wit: 

AuT.  1.  No  person,  demeaning  himself  in  a  peaceable  nnd  orderly  manner,  shall 
ever  be  molested  on  account  of  his  mode  of  worship  or  religions  sentiments.  In  the  said 
terri  tory. 

Akt.  2.  The  Inhabitants  of  the  said  territory  shall  always  bo  entitled  to  the  beneflts 
of  the  writ  of  habeas  i'or/nin,  and  of  the  trial  by  jury,  of  a  proportionate  representation 
of  the  people  in  the  T-cuislature;  and  of  judicial  proceedings  acconling  to  the  course  of 
common  law.  All  persons  sliall  be  bailable,  nnless  for  capital  oftenses,  where  the  proof 
shall  be  evident  or  the  presumption  great.    All  flnes  shall  be  moderate;  and  no  cruel  or 


198 


THK    lAVVJi   Oh     I'ONTI.U)    ANO   TKClMHKIi: 


the  countrv  to  tho  wost,  that  had  been  ceded  by  Virginia  to 
the  United  States;  and  in  tho  year  1788,  the  otHce  of  Governor 
wa«  in  a  great  nieacure  forced  on  u»e.  The  losses  I  had  sus- 
tained in  tlie  revolntionary  war,  from  the  depreciation  of  the 
numey  and  otlier  causes,  liad  been  very  great;  and  my  friends 
saw  in  tliis  new  government  means  that  might  he  in  my  power 
to  compensate  myself,  and  to  provide  handsomely  for  my 
numerous  family.  Tliey  did  not  know  how  little  1  was  qual- 
itied  to  avail  myself  of  those  advantages,  if  they  had  existed. 
I  had  neither  taste  nor  genius  for  speculation  in  land,  neither 
did  1  think  it  very  consistent  with  theotHce." 


m 


uiiUBUtil  punlaliiiiuiiU  hIiuII  bu  inlliutud.  No  niuii  mIiuII  bu  iloprlvod  of  hlii  liberty  or 
prupurty,  but  by  thu  juilijinuut  of  lilo  pttora  or  thu  litw  ol'  llio  luiid;  and  should  tho  public 
exlguuuluH  iiiuko  It  uoctiHiiiiry,  I'or  thu  uotunion  pru«i'i'vutlon,  to  tiiko  any  porHon'o  prop- 
erty, or  to  iloiiiand  hlit  particular  hltvIuoh,  lull  coinponoatloii  Mhall  bo  inado  Tor  tlio  Hame. 
And,  In  tho  JuhI  proHurvntlon  (>l'rl|{ht8  and  property,  It  Ih  undorHtoodandduclarod,  that  no 
law  ought  over  to  bu  made,  or  havu  I'orco  In  8aid  territory,  that  Mhall,  In  any  manner  wliut- 
evur,  lutorforu  with  or  niVuct  private  coutrauts  or  eugagomeutn,  bonaJiUe,  and  without 
IVaud,  previously  furniod. 

Akt.  3.  Kollgiou,  morality  and  knowledge,  being  neceii8ary  to  good  government  aud 
the  happiness  of  mankind,  scIiouIm  and  the  moans  of  eduuallon  shall  forevur  be  encour- 
aged. The  utmost  good  laith  shall  always  be  observed  towards  the  Indians;  thoir  landa 
and  property  shall  never  be  taken  fl-om  them  without  their  consent;  and,  iu  their  prop- 
erty, rights  nnd  liberty,  they  shall  never  bt!  Invaded  or  dli<turbod,  unless  In  just  and 
lawful  wars  authorized  by  C'oni^ross;  but  laws  founded  In  Justice  ami  humanity,  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  bo  made  for  preventing  wrongs  being  done  to  them,  and  for  preserving 
peace  and  friendship  with  them. 

Akt.  4.  The  said  territory,  and  the  Status  which  may  be  formed  therein,  shall  forever 
reniaiu  a  part  of  this  confoderacy  of  the  United  StuteH  of  America,  subject  to  the  Articles 
of  Confederation,  and  to  such  a''  ..'ations  therein  as  shall  bo  constitutionally  made;  and 
to  all  the  acts  and  ordinances  of  tho  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  conformable 
thereto.  The  Inhabitants  and  settlers  In  thesuld  territory  shall  bo  subject  to  pay  a  part 
of  tho  federal  debts  coutractod,  or  to  be  contracted,  and  u  proportional  part  of  tho  u-xpenses 
of  government,  to  be  apportioned  on  them  by  Congress  according  to  the  same  common  rule 
and  measure  by  which  apportionments  thereof  shall  l)o  made  on  the  other  States;  and  the 
taxes,  for  paying  their  proportion,  shall  be  laid  and  levied  by  the  authority  and  direction  of 
the  Legislatures  of  the  district  or  districts,  or  new  States,  as  in  tho  original  States,  within 
the  time  agreed  upon  by  tho  United  States  In  Congress  assembled.  Tho  Legislatures  of 
those  districts  or  now  States,  shall  never  interfere  with  the  primary  disposal  of  the  soil 
by  tho  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  nor  with  any  regulations  Congress  may  Hnd 
necessary  for  securing  the  title  Id  such  soil  to  the  bonaflile  purchasers.*  No  tax  shall  be 
imposed  on  land,  the  property  of  tho  United  States;  and,  in  no  case,  shall  non-resideut 
proprietors  be  taxed  higher  than  residents.  The  navigable  waters  leading  Into  tho  Mis- 
sissippi and  St.  Lawrence,  and  tho  carrying  places  between  the  same,  shall  be  common 
highways,  and  forever  free,  as  well  to  the  iniiabltants  of  said  tc^rrltory  as  to  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  and  those  of  any  other  States  that  may  bo  admitted  into  tlie  Con- 
federacy, without  any  tax.  Impostor  duty  therefor. 

*  Act  of  25th  February,  1811,  provides  tho  same  In  Louisiana;  and,  also,  that  landt 
Bold  by  Congress  shull  not  bo  taxed  for  live  years  after  sale;  in  Mississippi,  by  act  of  Ist 
March,  1817,  and  so  of  all  others. 


OW,   TIIK    HOKDKK    WAIW  oK    IWo   OKNTURIKrt. 


199 


With  liis  appi)iiitiiient,  ho  received  iiiHtructionfl  to  ascertain 
the  feeliiigH  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  the  IS^orthvvest,  and,  if  j)o8- 
sihle,  to  win  their  friendship  for  tlie  future.  iJut  St.  CMair 
found  deadly  foes  instead  of  friends  atnon^  the  natives,  and 
was  soon  surrounded  by  many  dltticulties,  growing  out  of  a 
jnoloiiged  war  with  tljem. 

{{('tore  ^ivin^  an  account  ot  these  hostilities,  it  will  he  proper 
to  cull  the  attention  to  some  nmtters  that  took  place  several 
yeiirs  before.  By  this  means,  the  reader  will  njoro  clearly 
uiitieristand  the  causes  which  led  to  this  struggle.  Unfortu- 
iiati'ly  for  the  Americans,  the  French  had  nuide  no  extensive 
purchases  from  the  Western  Indians,  so  that  the  treaty  of  Paris 
in  1703,  transferred  to  England  only  snudi  grants  about  the 
various  forts,  Detroit,  Vincennes,  Kaskaskia,  etc.  Then,  as  we 
have  seen,  followed  Pontiac's  war  and  defeat;  next  we  have  the 
grant  by  the  Iroquois  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  1768,  of  the  lands 
south  of  the  Ohio;  following  came  Dunmore's  war,  which  ter- 
minated without  any  transfer  of  Indian  territory  to  the  whites, 


Aht.  ft.  Thoru  Bhiill  be  formed  in  Uio  Bald  territory,  not  losa  than  three  nor  more  than 
five  Sliitus;  and  the  boundaries  of  the  States,  as  soon  as  Virginia  ohall  alter  hur  act  of 
ccsHion,  unduousent  to  the  same,  ehull  t)ecome  tlxud  and  eBtabiUlied  as  follows,  to-wlt: 
Tilt'  wi^Ktern  State  in  the  said  territory,  shall  bo  bounded  by  the  MlssisBlppi,  the  Ohio 
and  Wubash  rivers;  a  direct  line  drawn  from  the  Wabash  and  Post  St.  Vincent's  due 
north,  tu  the  territorial  line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada;  and  by  the  said 
territorial  lino,  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woodj  and  Miseissippl.  The  middle  State  shall  be 
bull iidc'd  by  the  said  direct  lino,  the  Wubash  from  Poet  St.  Vincent's,  to  the  Ohio;  by 
the  Ohio,  by  a  direct  line  drawn  due  north  from  the  mouth  of  the  Groat  Miami,  to  the 
eaiii  tt'iritoriul  lino,  Tho  eastern  State  shall  bo  bounded  ))y  the  last  mentioned  direct 
liiu',  tho  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  the  said  territorial  line:  Provided,  however,  and  it  is 
fiirilu'i'  understood  and  declared,  that  tho  boundaries  of  these  three  States  shall  be  sub- 
Ji'ct  !<o  far  to  be  altered,  that  if  Oongress  shall  hereafter  llnd  it  expedient,  they  shall  have 
uuihoi'ity  to  form  one  or  two  States  In  that  part  of  tho  said  territory  which  lies  north  of 
nil  cast  and  west  lino  drawn  through  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michigan. 
And.  whenever  any  of  the  said  States  shall  have  sixty  thousand  free  inhabitants  therein, 
eiU'h  State  shall  be  admitted,  by  its  delegates,  into  the  Congress  of  tho  United  States  on 
an  eciiinl  footing  with  tho  original  States  \v.  vll  respects  whatever,  and  shall  be  at  liberty 
to  form  a  permanent  constitution  and  State  government:  Provided,  the  constitution 
and  government  so  to  be  formed,  thall  be  republican,  and  in  conformity  to  the  principles 
contniiuMl  In  these  articles;  and  so  far  as  it  can  be  consistent  with  the  general  interest 
Of  the  confederacy,  such  admission  shall  be  allowed  at  an  earlier  period,  and  when 
there  may  be  a  lesti  number  of  free  inhabitants  in  the  State  than  sixty  thousand. 

AuT.  (i.  There  shall  be  neither  slavery  or  involuntary  servitude  in  tho  said  territory, 
othLTwIse  than  In  tho  punishment  of  crimes,  whereof  the  party  sliall  have  been  duly 
convicted:  Provided,  alwayg.  That  any  person  escaping  into  the  same,  from  whom 
labor  orservice  is  lawfully  claimed  in  any  one  of  the  original  Stale',  such  fugitive  may  be 
lawfully  reclaimed  and  conveyed  to  tho  person  claiming  his  or  her  labor  or  service  as 
aforoenUI. 


200 


TIIK    r.IVra  OK    I'ONTIAll   AND   TWlIMHKIi: 


.     I 


and,  therefore,  wlicu  at  the  clone  of  tlio  Revolution,  in  17S3, 
Great  Britain  niado  over  lier  Western  claims  to  the  United 
States,  she  made  over  nothing  more  than  she  had  received 
from  France,  excepting  the  "iitlo  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  the 
Southern  Indians  to  a  portion  of  the  territory  south  of  the 
Ohio.  But  this,  however,  was  not  the  view  that  the  Congress 
of  the  United  (colonies  took  of  the  affair.  This  body  conceived 
that  it  had,  under  the  treaty  with  England,  a  full  right  ^.o  all 
tlie  lands  thcrei)y  ceded,  and  regarding  the  Indian  title  as  for- 
feited by  f'  0  hostilities  of  the  Revolution,  proceeded  not  to 
purchase  lands  from  the  savages,  but  to  grant  them  peace,  mid 
dictate  their  own  terms  as  to  the  boundary  lines  of  territory 
allowed  to  the  Fndians. 

In  October,  1784,*  the  Uniteil  States  acquired  in  this  way 
whatever  title  the  Iroquois  possessed  to  the  western  country 
both  north  and*  south  of  the  Ohio,  by  the  second  treaty  of  Fort 
Stanwix;  a  treaty  openly  and  fairly  made,  but  one  the  valiility 
of  which  many  of  the  Iroquois  always  disputed.  The  ground 
of  their  objection  appears  to  have  been  that  the  treaty  was 
with  a  part  only  of  the  Indian  nations,  whereas  the  wish  of  the 
natives  was  that  every  act  of  the  States  with  them  should  bo 
as  with  a  confedei'acy,  embracing  all  the  tribes  bordering  upon 
the  great  lakes.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  instructions 
given  the  Indian  cominissioners  in  October,- 1783,  provided  for 
one  convention  with  all  the  tribes,  and  that  this  provision  was 
changed  in  the  following  March  for  one  by  which  as  many 
separate  conventions  were  to  be  had,  if  possible,  as  there  were 
separate  tribes.  In  pursuance  of  this  last  plan  the  commis- 
sioners, in  October,  1784,  refused  to  listen  to  the  proposal 
which  is  said  then  to  have  been  made  for  one  general  congress 
of  the  northern  tribes,  and  in  opposition  to  Brant,  Red  Ja'-ket, 
and  other  influential  chiefs  of  the  Iroquoii,  concluded  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix.  Then  came  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mcintosh, 
in  January,  1785,  with  the  "Wyandots,  Delaware,  Ojibwa  and 
Ottawa  nations.  The  third  treaty  made  by  the  United  States 
was  with  the  Shawanoes,  at  F'ort  Finney,  in  January,  1786, 
which,  it  will  be  remembered,  the  Wabash  tribes  refused  to 

*  Western  Annuls. 


rniar,  wii 


OR,   TIIK    noKUKK    WAUS   o|'   TWn   CKMI  KII->». 


201 


atteiul.  The  fourth  ami  Ht'th,  which  were  uetH  of  conflrumtion, 
wore  miulo  at  Fort  llanimr,  in  1789,  one  with  the  Six  NatiouH, 
and  the  other  with  the  VVyandots  and  their  asHociatcs,  namely, 
the  Dehiwares,  Ottawas,  Ojihwas,  Pottawatoniies  and  Sacs. 
Thif*  last  treaty  the  confederated  nations  of  the  hike  refused  to 
acknowledge  as  binding,  and  in  their  council,  in  17U3,  they 
explained  the  reasons  in  the  following  speech  : 

Brotlici's:  A  j^cnoriil  council  of  all  the  Indian  confedcrncy  was  held,  113 
you  will  know,  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1788,  at  thiH  place;  and  that  K<'iici'al 
council  was  invited  by  your  commissioner,  Governor  St.  Clair,  to  meet 
him  for  tlie  purpose  of  holding  a  treaty  with  regard  to  the  lands  men- 
tioned  by  you  to  have  been  ceded  by  the  treaties  of  FortStanwix  and  Fort 
Mcintosh. 

Brothers:  We  are  in  possession  of  the  speeches  and  letters  which 
passed  on  that  occasion  between  those  deputed  by  the  confed»)rato  Indians 
and  Governor  St.  Clair,  the  commissioner  of  the  United  States.  Tlieso 
papers  prove  that  your  said  commissioner,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1789,  after  having  been  informed  by  the  general  council  of  the  preceding 
tall  that  no  bargain  or  sale  of  any  part  of  these  Indian  lands  would  bo 
considered  as  valid  or  binding  unless  agreed  to  by  a  general  council, 
ncvertiieiess  persisted  in  collecting  »ogetlier  a  few  chiefs  of  two  or  three 
nations  only,  and  with  them  held  a  treaty  for  the  cession  of  an  immense 
country,  in  whlcli  they  were  no  more  interested  than  as  a  branch  of  tlio 
general  confederacy,  and  who  were  in  no  manner  authorized  to  make  any 
grant  or  cession  whatever. 

Brothers:  How  then  was  It  possible  for  you  to  expect  to  enjoy  peace 
and  quietly  to  hold  these  lands,  when  your  commissioner  was  informed, 
long  before  he  held  the  treaty  of  Fort  Ilarmar,  that  the  consent  of  a  general 
council  was  absolutely  necessary  to  convey  any  part  of  tliese  lands  to  the 
United  States. 

ifassas,  the  Ojibwa  chief,  who  signed  the  treaty  at  Fort 
Harniar,  was  present  at  the  council  at  Greenville,  in  1795,  and 
declared  that  he  did  not  fully  understand  the  objects  of  the 
compact  he  had  signed,  and  that  his  people  would  not 
acknowledge  it  The  Wyandots,  however,  acknowledged  even 
the  transfer  on  the  Muskingum,  and  their  chief,  Tarke,  con- 
tiruied  it,  in  behalf  of  his  nation  in  the  following  words  at  the 
council  at  Greenville : 

Brothers:  You  have  proposed  to  us  to  build  our  good  work  on  the  treaty 
of  lluskingum;  that  treaty  I  have  always  considered  as  formed  upon  the 
fairest  principles.    You  took  pity  on  us  Indians;  you  did  not  do  as  our 


202 


TIIK    I.IVKH    OK    l-ONTIAO    AND   TKCPMSKIi: 


fittlKTH,  llio  EiiKlixli,  iiKrccd  yi>it  Hlioiild,  Voii  iniirht,  liy  Hint  iiirn'oincm, 
liHvc  Ukuii  nil  iiiir  liiiiils,  Ixit  you  |)ltit>i|  iih  and  let  uh  hold  part.  I  itiwiiya 
looked  upon  tliiit  treaty  to  Iw  bliullii);  upon  the  United  Htaten  and  ui 
IndiauH. 


The  cofifedenited  imtioim,  uh  h  whole,  did  not  Hunctum  the 
treaty  at  Kurt  Ilurnmr,  and  in  tlieir  cohikmI  in  177.S,  theyi^ojild 
not  a^ret!  concern inj^  it. 

Such  were  the  rehitions  hetween  the  Indiann  and  the  United 
StatuH  in  1789.  Territory  had  heeii  conveyed  hy  tlie  Iroquois, 
the  \Vyan<h>trt,  the  Dehiwarew,  and  tiie  ShawanocH,  which  could 
not  he  ohjected  to,  but  the  Ojibwas,  OttawaH,  KickapooH,  Weas, 
PiankenhawB,  Pottawatoniies,  Eel  River  In<lian8,  IvaskaHkias, 
and  the  Mianiis,  were  not  honnd  hy  any  existing  treaties  to 
yield  their  claims  to  the  land  north  of  the  Ohio,  and  these 
tribes  wished  the  Ohio  to  be  the  perpetual  western  btnuKlnrv 
of  civilization,  and  would  not  therefore  sell  an  acre  north  of  it. 
So  strong  was  their  fefiling  in  this  determination  that  the  more 
reckless  warriors  of  these  nations  could  not  be  restrained  from 
warfare  upon  the  invading  Long  Knives,  and  in  this  way  the 
many  attacks  tipon  the  settlers  of  the  west  took  jilace.  In 
Peck's  compilation  we  find  the  following:  "Washington 
expressed  doubts  as  to  the  justness  of  an  offensive  war  uiM)n 
the  tribes  of  the  Wabash  and  Manmee;  and  had  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Ilarmar  been  the  sole  ground  whereon  the  United  States 
could  have  claimed  of  the  Indians  the  Northwestern  Territory, 
it  may  be  doubted  whether  right  would  have  justified  the  steps 
taken  in  1790,  '91,  and  '94  ;  but  the  truth  was,  that  before 
that  treaty,  the  Iroquois,  Delawares,  Wyandots,  and  Shawuiioes 
had  yielded  the  south  of  Ohio,  the  ground  on  which  they  had 
long  dwelt;  and  neither  the  sale  to  Putnam  and  his  associates, 
nor  that  of  Symmes,  was  intended  to  reach  beyond  the  lands 
ceded.  Of  this  we  have  proof  in  the  third  article  of  the 
ordinance  of  1787,  passed  the  day  before  the  proposition  to  sell 
to  the  Ohio  Company  was  for  the  first  time  debated;  which 
article  declares  that  the  lands  of  the  Indians  shall  never  be 
taken  from  them  without  their  consent.  It  appears  to  us, 
therefore,  that  the  United  States  were  fully  justified  in  taking 
possession  of  the  northwest  shore  of  the  Belle  Kiviere,  and  that 


OK,    TIIK    IU)KI>KK    WAKH   OK   TWO    CKNTI  KIKK. 


2oa 


without  rcti'renco  to  tin'  tiviity  iit  Fort  lliiriimr,  which  we  will 
allow  to  hiivu  been,  it'  the  liKliaiiH  Hpoke  truly,  (uiid  thoy  wore 
not  I'oiitrndictetl  hy  t.iie  IJiiitwl  States  com  mi  >siom!rri,)  morully 
wortlilt'Hs.  Hut  it  hIho  uppcurH  tu  uh  tiiat  in  taking  otti'iiHive 
btt'ps  iu  '71X),  niid  I7l>l,tiie  tuUcral  govurnincMit  acti><l  unwirtcly, 
iiiul  that  it  tthould  then,  at  theoutriet,  have  (h>iio  what  it  (h'd  in 
17!);i,  iil'tor  St.  Ohiir'b  terrihlo  defeat — namely,  it  nhoidd  have 
8eiit  coinmiHHiunurd  of  the  lii^heHt  uharaeter  to  the  lake  trihes, 
aiul  iu  the  prenenco  of  the  British,  learnt  their  eauHCH  of  com- 
pliiint  an<l  oftered  fair  ttTuiB  of  conipromirte.  That  sueh  a 
step  wiiK  wise  ami  just,  the  government  acknowle<lged  by  its 
iit'ter  action;^  and  surely  none  can  question  the  position  that  it 
was  uiore  likely  to  have  been  effective  before  the  savages  hud 
twiw  (lefeateil  the  armies  of  the  confederacy  than  afterward." 
According  to  instructions,  Governor  St.  Clair  now  sent  a 
deputy  into  the  Indian  country  of  the  Miamies  and  ShuwanocB, 
but  these  Indians  could  not,  for  some  reason,  tell  him  the  state 
ot  tiieir  minds,  being  no  doubt  under  English  inlluence.  They 
re([UCrtted  thirty  days  iu  which  to  send  an  answer  to  Fort 
Knox,  (Vincennes)  and  gave  the  messenger  but  litflo  reason  to 
believe  their  answer  would  be  favorable  to  the  speeches  which 
he  liiul  delivered  to  them.  No  sooner  had  the  messenger 
returned  to  Fort  Knox  than  news  came  that  all  the  Indians  of 
the  Wabash,  with  many  tribes  from  the  lake  region,  had  united 
agtiinst  the  Americans,  and  that  an  American  captive  had  been 
bunit'd  in  the  village  of  the  Miamies  only  a  few  days  after  the 
de})uty  from  St.  Clair  had  left.  It  was  now  evident  that  a  new 
tro\ible  was  breaking,  upon  the  frontier,  and  St.  Clair  hastened 
to  Fort  AVashington  (Cincinnati)  to  consult  with  Gen.  Ilarmar 
in  reference  to  another  campaign  into  the  Indian  cou^itry  of 
the  hostile  tribes. 


*  Tlic  fair  luinilod  Btudcnt  cannot  fall  to  admit  of  the  truthfulness  of 
this  comment.— En. 


(MIAPTKU    XXV. 

TlIK  F.NfJt.tHIT,  TIIK.  fNOTANH  AND  TIIR  AMKIlirANB  — TTAnMAU'tl  V.XVr.- 
OITinN — ilAUMAIt'H  DkKKAT  — MkAMUIIKH  l-'Otl  SnilUJINtl  rilK  iNDtvSs 
—  l'l(t)CT<m'M    MiMHION   A    FaILUKK  —  .1  KAl.tlUHY   OK*  TIIK    KnOURII, 

Bkkokk  giving  an  accitnnt  nt'  Ilurmar'n  campaign,  wliiih 
now  tollowH,  tlio  n-adcr  i«  liivitotl  to  look  in  upon  tin*  oiHrii. 
tions  of  tho  Ktiglirth  in  their  socret  mcaHurt'rt  to  keep  up  Imliim 
hostilities  atVer  the  peace  ot'  1783.  Ah  the  narrative  has  sIkwii, 
most  of  the  trihefl  of  (lie  Nortii west  adhered  to  England  during,' 
tho  [{evolutionary  conteHt,  hut  when  the  war  cloyed,  (iivat 
Ilritain  nuido  no  provinion  for  tho  Havage«  of  the  Nortliwtvt, 
but  transferred  them,  territory  and  all,  to  the  Americans.  The 
United  States  now  began  to  make  treatiert  of  peace  with  the 
Indiana,  ce<ling  them  tracts  of  their  own  latulrt,  regardiiii^  the 
country  of  the  hostile  tribes  as  con<inered  and  fort'citcd.  This 
producwl  discontent,  and  led  to  the  formation  of  the  great 
Indian  confederacy  under  Hrant.* 

In  order  to  accomplinh  tho  ends  for  which  this  league  wnj 
formed,  it  was  necessary  that  the  Hritish  should  retain  ])osses- 
Bion  of  the  forts  along  tho  lakes.  These  would  bo  ro([iiiivil 
both  for  the  protection  of  supplies  and  for  defense.  On  tiie 
other  hand,  tho  British  claimed  that  they  had  a  right  to  lioM 
those  posts,  as  the  Americans  ha<l  broken  tho  treaty  of  I'vi, 
Agaii^^he  trade  with  tho  Indians,  oven  though  England  imM 
be  at  war  with  tho  United  States^  they  regarded  as  perfectly 
fair  and  just.  "Having  thus  a  sort  of  legal  right  to  the  iHX'i- 
tion  thoy  occupied,  tho  British  did,  nndoubtedly  and  pmposely, 
aid  and  abet  tho  Indians  hostile  to  the  United  States.''  In 
1785,  after  tho  formation  of  his  confedoracv,.  Brant  wont  to 
England,  and  his  arrival  was  thus  announced  in  tho  Lontion 

♦  Stone'a  Lifo  of  Urant. 

(204) 


OR,   Tlir    IKtUUKU    WAItH    OK   TM'O   CKNTI  KIKK. 


205 


miMTit ;  "Tliln  «»xtriior«limirv  ikthohuj^i*  in  hhmI  to  liuvi*  pro- 
»i(|i'il  lU  tli(>  liitif  gruiitl  ('Oti^rt'HH  of  ('oiiti>(li>mt(t  cliioti*  of  tlio 
Iniliiiii  iiatioiiA  ill  Aiiittrieu,  utid  to  Ik«  hy  tliuiii  iippoiiittHi  to 
tli(<coii<luL't  iiiid  cliiuf  coininuiul  in  tlio  war  wliicli  t)u>y  now 
ititditiitc  iipiitirtt  the  llnittHl  StiitfH  of  Aiiipi'Icii.  lie  took  lii« 
(|t'|)Hi'tiir«<  for  Kni^liuid  iiiiiiKNiiutiily  qh  tluit  uKHiMiiMy  liroku  up; 
itiul  it  Im  conjitotiircd  timt  IiiH  LMiil)Ur«Hy  to  tlio  HritlHli  Ooiirt  is 
,if  gmit  iniportiincf.  Thin  country  owoh  iiiiiph  to  tlit;  HtTvicea 
of  Colonel  nraiit  during  tliu  lute  wiir  in  Ainerieii.  He  wum 
iiliu'iitctj  tit  I'liiliidelpitiii;  iri  i\  very  Hhrewd,  intelligent  ]>erHon, 
jMisM'HHeH  greiit  courage  iind  ahilitiert  an  a  warrior,  and  irt  invio< 
liil)lv  uttuelied  to  the  HritJHh  nation." 

Hmiit  vinitid  Lord  (Sidney,  the  Colonial  8(^crotary,  on  the 
fourth  of  January,  17mO,  and  boldly  «tated  the  trouble  in 
America.  Me  closed  h in  reniarkrt  with  these  wtjrds:  ''This 
^iiicuiiing  war,)  we  ehall  uv(»id  to  the  iitiiioHt  of  oiir])Owcr,  au 
dearly  as  wo  lovo  our  lan<lrt.  JJut  should  it,  contrary  to  our 
wishes,  liapi)en,  we  desire  to  know  whether  we  are  to  bo  con- 
(iiilcied  as  His  Majesty's  faithful  allies,  and  have  that  support 
8ii<l  coiinteimnce  such  as  old  and  true  friends  expect." 

The  ('oloiiial  Minister  answen^l  him  indeiinitely,  and  when 
the  Mohawk  chieftain  returned,  he  could  give  but  little  assur- 
ances, to  his  brethren,  that  in  the  event  of  war,  they  would 
receive  aid  from  England.  On  the  other  hand,  John  Johnson, 
♦Jie  Indian  Su])erintendent,  wrote  to  him  in  these  words:  "  Do 
no*;  Hiilfer  an  idea  to  hold  a  })laco  in  your  mind,  that  it  will  be 
for  your  interest  to  sit  still  and  see  the  Americans  attempt  the 
posts.  It  is  for  your  sakes  chieily,  if  not  entirely,  that  we  hold 
them.  If  you  become  indiffereiiT  about  them,  they  may  per- 
liai)s  be  given  up;  what  security  would  you  then  have?  You 
would  be  left  at  the  mercy  of  a  ])eople  whose  blood  calls  aloud 
for  revenge;  whereas,  by  supporting  them,  you  encourage  us 
to  hold  them,  and  encourage  the  new  settlements,  already  con- 
Bidenible,  and  every  day  increasing  by  numbers  coining  in,  who 
tind  they  can't  live  in  the  States.  Many  thousands  are  pre- 
paring to  come  in.  This  increase  of  His  Majesty's  subjects 
will  serve  as  a  protection  for  you,  should  the  subjects  of  the 
States,  by  endeavoring  to  make  further  encroachments  on  you, 


i06 


rilK   I.IVM  i*K    hiNTIAt!    ANI»  TMt  MMKiri 


cliMtiirh  your  cinli't."    Tlii««  U'ttiT  wiw  writtrn  In  ^Ai'p!i»,  ijj*^ 

niMi  two  iiiiMitliK  iiltiTwitnlit,  Major   Miittiu'WH,  who  \,i\4  dti^ 

ii|>|M»iiitiHl   to    tilt)  01111111111111   at   Detroit   l>y    KonI    i>'>rvlu>iiU'r 

wroto  to  Hnitit,  ill  tlio  luitiiK  ot'  tlitt  )fovi>ni(»r,  hm  t'ollown;   ")|i« 

i.of<lHlii|>  wim  Horry  tlmt  wliilo  tlio  liidiiuiM  wi^rti  wolioitinj^  (,J4 

aHHirtfiimtu   ill   tlivir   |>i-<'|HtrutionM   lor   war,  Mornu   ot'  tliu  Six 

NutioiiH  liad  M'lit  (li'piitirM  to  Allmiiy  to  trwit  with  tlio  Aimr- 

icuiif*,  who,  it  Ih  Hiiid,  litivu  iiiiult!  u  treaty  with  them,  ^r)ii>tiii,f 

periiiiriMioii  to  niako  roaiU  for  tho  piirpoHo  ot'  coiiiiti^  to  Niiiir. 

ara;  hut  that,  iiotwithHtniidin^  theHo  thiti^H,  the  IiidiaiM  hIioiiM 

hiivt!  their  preneiitH,  iih  they  are  tnarkii  ot'  the  kiii^'n  approha. 

tioii  of  their  former  eoiiduet.     In  future  hin  lordHliip  wiithoit 

tluMu  to  act  an  Im  lM>Ht  for  their  iiiteretit;  he  caiinot  itegiii  ii  w;ir 

witli   tho   AmorieaiM,  hej'aiiHO  mmie  of  their  pettple  eiicntiuli 

and  make  ilepreiiatiotiH  upon  partH  of  the  Iu<lian  country;  lint 

they  miHt  rtee  it  in  IiIh  htrcUhip'n  iiituiition  to  defend  the  puotM; 

and  that  while  tlieHo  are  prenerved,  the  IndiaiiH  murtt  Hud  pfmi 

Heciirity  therefrom,  and  conHe<juently  tho  AmericauH  ^rtiittt 

dilHculty  in  takiiij<  poHHeHbion  of  their  landn;  hut  hIiouKI  tlin 

once   hecoino  masters  of  tho  postH,  they  will  Kurnnind  tlif 

IndiauH,  and    accompliHh    their  purpoHo   with   littlo   ti-oiilik 

From  a  coiiHideration  of  all  which,  it  therefore  remaiuK  with 

the  IndiauH  to  decide  what  Ih  most  for  their  own  interenf,  atui 

to  let  hirt  lordrthip  know  their  dotormination,  that  ho  may  take 

his  measurcH  accordingly;  hut,  whatever  thoir  resolution  i«,  it 

8houl<l  ho  taken   as   hy  one  and   tho  name  peopio,  hy  whiili 

meaiirt  thoy  will  ho  roHpected  and  hocome  strong;  hut  if  tlii'v 

divide,  and  act  one  part  against  tho  other,  they  will  hoconit' 

weak,  and  help  to  dostroy  each  other.     This  is  a  suhstancc  ot 

what  his   lordship  desire<l  me  to  tell  you,  and   I   re(|uest)(m 

will  give  his  sentiments  that  mature  consideration  which  their 

justice,  generosity  and   desire    to  promote  the   welfare  and 

happiness  of  the   Indians,  must  appear  to  all  tho  world  to 

merit. 

"  In  your  letter  to  me,  you  seem  apprehensive  tliat  the  Eng- 
lish are  not  very  anxious  ahout  the  defense  of  the  posts.  You 
will  soon  he  satisfied  that  they  have  nothing  more  at  heart, 
provided  that  it  continues  to  be  the  wish  of  the  Indians,  and 


ON,  TIIK    INiUil^.M    UAMM   or   TWO   <  KNtt  NIM 


•J07 


thitt  ttioy  n'iiialn  Hnn  in  <loiii^  tlicir  |>Hrt  of  tin*  l>iiiilnt»Mi»,  hy 
^r»*v<'tititi^  tint  Anii'iiciuiM  tVom  coiiiiii^  into  tlu>ir  country, 
and  ('••unci (ucntly  trorn  nnircliin^  to  tlif  poMtH.  On  tli«>  ollirr 
\-j\i],  it'  tli»  lihliimM  tliiiik  it  nion*  tor  tlittir  intiu'CHt  tlmt  tlio 
Aiiu>rifnhi;  =^lM>ultl  liiiVi'  |MMiM<iiMi)Mi  of  tliu  |HmtM,  lUld  Ih)  i>Ht»l)< 
lUlifil  in  tlioir  country,  tlicy  ou^lit  to  Ueclnru  it,  tliiit  tlio 
Kti^li»i*  iiitMl  no  loiii^tr  Ih*  put  to  the  vaf>t  *»m1  nniu>c(>MMury 
i.\|>«'ii«c  uiid  in<'onvi'nii'nc»i  of  kccpinf^  |M»j*tn,  tiif  (^h'\t>i'  olijoet 
ot  wliit'li  iit  to  |>rot<>c't  tlutir  Imliun  ullioM,  n\u\  tlii>  loyiilistA  who 
liiivc  HiitrcriHl  with  tlu!tn.  It  ii«  well  known  thut  no  imutoucIi- 
inciitrt  i!Vt*r  hiivi)  or  itvcr  will  liu  nuuiu  hy  tlu-  Kngliitji  upon  thu 
litiiiirt  or  property  of  the  IntiiuuM  in  conHo<|Ui>ii(>t<  of  |M)HH(>HMin^ 
till'  |H>rttK;  how  fur  tlmt  will  Ito  the  chhu  if  nvv.r  thu  AnicriciuiM 
gt't  into  tliiMn,  nuiy  very  uuMily  he  iniuginiHl,  fruio  their  hoHtilu 
jNTttevrritnce,  even  without  thut  udvahtugCi  in  driving  the 
hidiiinri  otf  their  IuikIh  uikI  taking  poHHCHHion  of  theni." 

Tiiirt  iiHHurunce  from  thu  liritiHh  uuthoriticM  und  the  delnv  of 
('uii^rcHH  in  uUHwering  the  uddreHrt  of  thu  cotdedi'ruted  trihei, 
led  to  the  ^enerul  eouneil  which  wum  held  in  I7H8.  In  this 
iiHttoiniily  the  IndiuiiK  were  divide<l,  und  Hrunt,  who  wu8 
thoroii^ddy  KngliHh,  fur  the  time  ^uve  up  hin  intereHt  in  the 
ert'oitH  of  WcHtern  trihcH.  From  tluH  day  the  Miutnirt  were  the 
ImdorH  uiuoii^  them.  TIiuh  I  nu^ht  go  on  through  the  whole 
voliiiiic,  giving  evidencea  thut  the  Indiunn  were  excited  to 
hostility  uguiurtt  the  Anu'rieutiB  hy  the  EngliHh.  liut  if  the 
Kiij^liHli  ucted  deceitfully,  the  Americans  met  the  aggreHH(>r8 
iiiiwipicly.  Had  the  proper  j)er8oim  heon  Bent  among  the  wiv- 
ii^crt  to  teach  them  their  reul  situation,  a  prolonge<l  war  would 
have  been  averte<l;  but  they  did  not  chooHe  to  adopt  this  course. 
St.  ('liiir  called  u|)on  Virginia  for  one  thou(*und,  and  upon 
IViuiHvlvania  for  live  hundred  militia.  Of  these  three  hun- 
drwl  were  to  meet  at  Fort  Steuhen,  ( Jefferson vi He)  to  aid  the 
troops  from  Fort  Knox,  (Vincennes)  against  the  Indians  of  the 
Wabash.  Seven  hundred  were  to  gather  at  Fort  Washington, 
(Cincinnati)  and  five  hundred  just  below  Wheeling;  the  two 
latter  bodies  \mi\g  intended  to  nuirch  witli  the  federal  troops 


208 


Till',    MVha  OK   I'ONilAO    AND  TKOL'MSKIi: 


from  Fort  Wjvshin^ton,  under  Gen.  Ilnrinnr,  Ji^uinst  the  towiiii 
at  the  junction  of  the  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph.^ 

The  troo])8  were  orgaiiizcd  and  moved  forward  in  the  follow. 
inti^  order:  The  Kentuckians  composed  three  I)attalions,  uiidor 
Majors  Hall,  McMuUen  and  liay,  with  Lieut.  Col.  Trotter  ut 
their  head.  The  Pennsylvanians  were  formed  into  one  battalion, 
under  Lieut.  Col.  Tnibloy  and  Major  Paul,  the  whole  to  be 
cominanded  by  Col.  John  Hardin,  subject  to  the  orders  of  (nn. 
llarmar.  This  was  the  detachment  sent  a<jfain8t  the  Miami 
villages  when  the  main  army  was  within  thirty-live  mi leti  of 
their  forts.  On  the  thirtieth  of  October,  1700,  the  Genoml 
moved  out  with  the  federal  troops,  formed  into  two  small  bat- 
talions under  the  immediate  command  of  l\Iajor  Wyllys  and 
Major  Doufifhty,  together  with  Capt.  Ferguson's  conipuuy  of 
artillery,  and  three  pieces  of  ordnance.  On  the  third  of  Octo- 
ber (ten.  ILirinar  joined  the  advanced  troops  early  in  the 
morning;  the  remaining  j)art  of  the  day  was  spent  in  foniiing 
the  line  of  march,  the  order  of  encamjiment  and  battle,  and 
cx])laining  the  same  to  the  militia  field  ofticers.  On  the  fonrtli, 
tlie  army  took  uj)  the  cider  of  inarch.  On  the  fifth,  a  rein- 
forcement of  horsemen  and  mounted  inl'antry  joined  from 
Kentucky.  The  dragoons  were  formed  into  two  trooj^s;  tlie 
mounted  riflemen  made  a  com]>any,  and  this  small  battalion  of 
light  troops  was  put  under  the  command  of  Major  Fontainc.f 

On  the  fourteenth  this  party  marched  forward,  and  u]>on  the 
next  day,  about  three  o'clock,  reached  the  villages,  but  tliey 
were  deserted.  On  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth  the  main 
army  arrived  and  the  work  of  destruction  commenced;  by  the 
twenty-first,  the  chief  town,  five  other  villages,  and  nearly 
twenty  thousand  bushels  of  corn  in  ears  had  been  desti-oyed, 
When  ILirmar  reached  the  Maumee  towns  and  found  no  enemy, 
he  thought  of  pushing  forward  to  attack  the  Wea  and  other 
Indian  settlements  upon  the  Wabash,  but  was  ju-evented  bv 
the  loss  both  of  pack  liorses  and  cavalry  horses,  which  the 
Indians  seem  to  have  stolen  in  quantities  to  suit  themselves, 
in  consequence  of  the  willful  carelessness  of  the  owners.  The 
Wabash  plan  being  dropped,  Col.  Trotter  was  dispatched  with 


American  State  Papers. 


f  Western  Annals. 


OR,   TIIK    ItOKDKK    WAIM   OF   TWO   OKNTUKIKS. 


"209 


three  liun<lre(l  men  to  Hcoiir  the  woods  in  search  of  an  enemy, 
as  the  tracks  of  women  and  ehikiren  had  been  seen  near  by. 

Tarties  were  sent  out  in  different  directions;  but  through 
the  ntter  want' of  discipline  but  little  was  accomplished,  and 
in  one  instance  the  militia  was  badly  defeated.  A  few  scatter- 
ing Indians  were  killed,  while  on  the  other  hand  the  invaders 
lost  heavily.  The  campaign  was  a  complete  failure,  causing 
much  sutfering  among  the  Indians,  but  in  no  degree  subduing 
them.  Perha])s  the  most  trathful  report  of  this  campaign  was 
ji^iveu  by  the  Indians  themselves  to  the  English.  It  was  this: 
"Tiiere  have  been  two  engagements  abont  the  Miami  towns 
between  the  Americans  and  the  Indians,  in  which  it  is  said 
the  former  had  about  five  hundred  men  killed,  and  that  tlie 
rest  have  reti^eated.  The  loss  was  only  fifteen  or  twenty  on  the 
side  of  the  Indians.  The  Shawanoes,  the  Miamis  and  the 
Pottowatomios  were,  I  understand,  the  principal  tribes  who 
were  engaged,  but  I  do  not  learn  that  any  of  the  nations  have 
refused  their  alliance  or  assistance,  and  it  is  confidently  reported 
that  they  are  now  marching  against  the  frontiers  on  the  Ohio." 
Nor  was  the  report  of  the  invasion  of  the  settlements  on  the 
Ohio  short  of  the  truth.  On  the  evening  of  the  second  of 
January,  1791,  the  Indians  surprised  a  new  settlement  at  a 
phice  on  the  Muskingum  called  Big  Bottom.  In  this  disaster 
eleven  men,  one  woman  and  two  children  were  killed;  three 
were  taken  prisoners  and  four  otliers  made  their  esca})e. 

At  this  time  the  situation  of  the  settlements  north  of  the 
Ohio  was  truly  deplorable.  At  Marietta  were  about  eighty 
houses,  in  a  distance  of  one  mile,  with  scattering  dwellings 
about  three  miles  up  the  Ohio.  There  were  a  set  of  mills  at 
Duck  (reek,  four  miles  distant,  and  another  mill  about  two 
miles  up  the  Muskingum.  "  Twenty-two  miles  up  this  river," 
says  Bufus  Putnam,  writing  to  the  President,  "  is  a  settlement 
consisting  of  about  twenty  families;  about  two  miles  from 
them  on  Wolf  Creek,  are  live  families  and  a  set  of  mills.  Down 
the  Ohio,  and  opposite  the  Little  Kanawha,  commences  the 
settlement  called  Belle  Prairie,  which  extends  down  the  river, 
with  little  interruption,  about  twelve  miles,  and  contains 
between  thirty  and  forty  houses.  Before  the  last  disaster,  we 
14 


'     \ 


210 


THE   UVKM  OF   IHtNTFAO   ANH  TWUTMSKIi: 


hud  rievenil  o*;liei'  settlements,  which  Jire  ah-cady  broken  uj-.  I 
liave  taken  the  liberty  to  inclose  tlie  proceedings  of  the  Ohji, 
«oinpany  and  justices  of  the  sessions  on  this  occasion,  and  heif 
leave,  with  the  greatest  deferencre,  to  observe,  that  unless  tlit; 
government  speedily  send  a  l)o<ly  of  troo])s  for  onr  })rote('ti(»ii, 
we  are  a  mined  people.  The  removal  of  the  women  and 
children,  etc.,  will  reduce  many  of  the  ])oorer  sort  to  tlic  great- 
est straits;  but  if  we  add  to  this  the  destruction  of  their  corn, 
forage  and  cattle  by  the  enemy,  wliich  is  very  probable  to  onsiif, 
1  know  of  no  way  they  can  i)e  supporte<l;  but,  if  this  should 
not  happen,  where  these  peo])le  are  to  raise  bread  another  voar 
is  not  easy  to  conjecture,  and  most  of  them  have  nothing  left 
to  buy  with.  But  my  fears  do  not  stop  here;  we  are  ii  jjt'ople 
so  far  detached  fnun  all  others,  in  point  of  situation,  that  we 
can  hope  for  no  timely  relief,  in  case  of  emergency,  from  any 
of  our  neiglibors;  aiul  among  the  number  that  comjmse  our 
present  military  strength,  almost  one-luilf  are  young  men. 
hired  into  ♦.he  country,  intending  to  settle  by  and  l)y;  these, 
under  present  circumstances,  will  probably  leave  us  soon,  unless 
prospects  should  brighten;  and,  as  to  new  settlers,  we  can  ex])eet 
none  in  our  present  situation,  so  that,  instead  of  increasing  in 
strength,  we  are  likely  to  diminish  daily;  and,  if  we  do  not 
fall  a  ])rey  to  the  savages,  we  shall  be  so  reduced  and  dis- 
couraged as  to  give  up  the  settlement,  unless  government 
sliall  give  us  timely  protection.  It  has  been  a  mystery  witli 
some  why  the  troops  have  been  withdrawn  from  this  ([uarter 
and  collected  at  the  Miami.  Tliat  settlement  is,  I  believe, 
within  three  or  four  days'  march  of  a  very  populous  part  of 
Kentucky,  from  whence,  in  a  few  days,  the}'  might  be  rein- 
forced with  several  thousand  men,  whereas  we  are  not  witliin 
two  hundred  miles  of  any  settlement  that  can  probably  more 
than  protect  theniselves." 

After  the  defeat  Harmar  marched  to  Fort  Washington,  and, 
as  we  have  seen,  the  tribes  he  expected  to  have  conquered  were 
already  upon  the  settlements  with  furious  onslaught.  "The 
spirit  thus  manifested  by  the  tribes  which  had  just  been 
attacked,"  says  Mr.  Peck,  "  and  the  general  feelings  along  the 
frontier  in  relation  to  llarmar's  expedition,  made  the  United 


OR,   THK    HOKDKK    WAH8   (»F 


TWO   CKNTUBIKW. 


211 


States  government  Benfiible  that  their  first  step  in  the  conduct 
of  backwoodrt  wartlire  had  been  a  failure,  and  tliat  prompt  and 
8tn»ii<,'  measures,  calcuhited  either  to  win  or  force  a  state  of 
jtoiu'c,  must  be  adopted."  The  phvn  which  was  resorted  to 
was  HH  follows:  Jst.  To  send  a  messenger  to  the  Western 
In<lians  with  offers  of  peace,  to  be  accompanied  by  some  of 
the  Inxiuois  chieftains  favorable  to  America.  2d.  At  the  same 
time  to  organize  expeditions  in  the  West,  to  strike  the  Wea, 
Miami  and  Sliawanoe  towns,  in  case  it  sliould  be  clear  tiie  peace 
meHsenger  would  fail  in  his  mission;  and,  3d.  To  prepare  a 
grand  and  overwhelming  force  with  which  to  take  possession 
of  the  country  of  tlie  enemies  and  build  forts  in  their  midst. 
(  ol.  Thomas  Proctor  was  the  person  selected  to  carry  mes- 
sages of  peace.  He  received  his  commission  on  the  twelfth 
of  March,  1791,  and  immediately  left  Philadelphia  for  the  set- 
tlement of  Oornplanter,  or  Capt.  O'Beel,  the  chief  warrior  of  the 
Seneeas.  This  chief,  who  was  a  firm  friend  of  Washington  and 
the  Union,  had  promised  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  secure  peace, 
and  now  Proctor  hoped  to  induce  him  to  accompany  him  into 
the  west.  He  might  have  succeeded  in  this  had  not  the  British 
commander  at  Niagara  refused  them  a  vessel  to  carry  the 
anrt»assadors  up  Lake  Erie.  Thwarted  in  this.  Proctor's  plan 
was  a  failure.  After  Harman's  campaign,  the  tribes  of  the 
Northwest  sent  a  deputation  to  Lord  Dorchester  to  learn  what 
aid  England  would  give  in  the  contest  that  had  now  fairly 
begun.  Dorchester's  reply  was  not  definite,  but  indicated  that 
he  was  in  favor  of  peace.  It  would  now  seem  that  the  English 
were  anxious  for  peace,  expecting  it  could  be  obtained  while 
they  still  held  possession  of  the  western  outposts.  Colonel 
(rordon,  the  British  commandant  at  Niagara,  wrote  a  letter  to 
Brant,  asking  him  to  urge  the  western  tribes  into  an  honorable 
peace,  and  Jiraut,  in  turn,  wrote  a  letter  to  the  agent  among 
tiie  Miainies  advising  peace.  Yet,  with  these  views.  Brant, 
Gordon  and  other  influential  officers  did  but  vei-y  little  to  pro- 
mote peace;  but  the  reasons  were  probably  these:  First,  the 
Mohawk  chieftain,  Brant,  was  offended  at  the  favor  shown  to 
Coriiplanter,  his  greatest  foe,  I)}'  the  Americans,  and  by  their 
attempt  to  divide  the  Iroquois.     Secondly,  there  is  no  doubt 


213 


TIIK    UVKS   OF    l«i>NTIAO   AND  TKOl'MSEIi: 


but  that  tho  representativeH  of  England  in  (^unada  were  ott'endwl 
at  tho  entire  disregard  shown  by  tho  American  govornntent 
of  their  inHueneoa  over  the  savages  of  the  Northwest.  Tiio«e 
tribes  were  closely  connected  with  the  British  agentH,  and 
under  their  control,  and  Lord  Dorchester,  Colonel  Gordon  and 
Brant  looked  for  an  appeal  to  them  as  mediators  in  tho  (quarrel 
about  to  burst  forth;  or  at  any  rate  for  an  acceptance  by  the 
Americans  of  their  mediation,  if  asked  by  the  IndiauH;  an 
acceptance  of  the  kind  given  in  1793,  after  St.  (Jlair's  defeat, 
and  which  was  not,  of  course,  dishonorable  or  degrading. 
Thirdly,  both  the  Indians  and  English  were  puzzled  and 
excited  by  the  seeming  want  of  good  faith  on  the  part  of  tlie 
States ;  which,  at  tho  same  moment  almost,  commissioned 
Scott  to  war  upon  the  Miamies,  Proctor  to  treat  of  ])eace  with 
them,  St.  Clair  to  invade  and  take  possession  of  their  lands, 
and  Pickering  to  hold  a  council  with  their  brethren  for  bury- 
ing  the  fatal  hatchet,  and  quenching  tho  destructive  brand. 


''    '■■  It 


i     <  I 


w 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


Pkoctou'm  I'kac'K  Mission  — Its  Pailuhk  — Ordekb  for  St.  Ci.aik'b 
('AMrAioN  —  8t.  CiiAiii  Makchkb  into  the  Indian  Country  —  Hib 
Dkkkat  — Account  ok  tiik  Dibabtkr. 

But  the  Americans  were  also  deBirouB  to  enlist  Brant  as  a 
peace- maker,  and  steps  were  take  u  looking  to  this  end,  but 
before  he  could  be  approached  he  had  departed  for  the  west. 
His  mission  was  unknown,  although  suspected  to  have  been  to 
promote  war.  Measures  were  now  taken  to  secure  a  council 
of  the  Six  Nations,  on  the  sixteenth  of  June,  1791,  at  the 
Painted  Post,  near  the  junction  of  the  Coshocton  and  Tioga 
rivers.  The  object  of  this  council  was  to  secure  the  neutrality 
of  the  Iroquois  by  presents  and  speeches.  This  plan  partially 
succeeded.  The  council  closed  on  the  fifteenth  of  July,  and  the 
Indians  returned  satisfied.* 

It  had  been  calculated  that  Proctor  would  return  from  his 
mission  by  the  fifth  of  May,  and  report  the  result  of  his  journey 
at  Fort  Washington,  and  upon  this  calculation  had  been  based 
the  second  part  of  the  plan  for  the  campaign.  Accordingly,  on 
the  ninth  of  March,  1791,  orders  were  issued  to  Brigadier 
General  Charles  Scott,  authorizing  him,  in  conjunction  with 
Harry  Innis,  John  Brown,  Benjamin  Logan,  and  Isaac  Shelley, 
to  organize  an  expedition  of  mounted  volunteers  against  the 
nations  upon  the  Wabash,  to  start  upon  May  the  tenth,  unless 
countermanded,  which  would  take  place  in  the  event  of  Proc- 
tor's success.  These  orders  were  obeyed,  and  the  troops  M^ere 
in  readiness  at  the  time  appointed,  but  no  intelligence  of 
Proctor  having  reached  Fort  Washington  up  to  the  twenty- 
second  of  May,  the  detachment'  took  up  its  line  of  march  from 
the  Oliio.     Col.  John  Hardin  led  the  advance  party.     On  the 

•  American  State  Papers,  p.  181. 

(218) 


214 


TIIK    I.IVK8   OK    htNTlAi!    ANI»    ^^X"llM^»^;ll  t 


first  otMuiie  tlu-  towns  of  tlu^  enemy  were  (liwoveriHl  *  (W'u. 
Scott  iiniiuMliutoly  dctiu'lietl  John  Ilartlin  witli  sixty  niouiiUil 
intUntry,  and  >i  trt»op  of  light-horse  under  (apt.  McCoy,  to 
attack  tlie  vilhiges  to  the  letY,  and  moved  on  briskly  with  the 
main  hody,  in  ohUm'  of  hattle,  towards  tlu!  town,  the  smoki;  of 
which  was  disceniahle.  The  guides  were  deceived  with  respect 
to  the  situation  of  the  town;  for  instead  of  standing  at  tla' 
edge  of  the  phiin  througli  which  they  march«>d,  they  foni-.d  it 
on  the  K>w  ground  iiordering  on  the  VVahash;  on  turning  the 
point  of  woods,  one  iiouse  was  presented  in  •".lieir  front,  ('apt. 
Price  was  ordered  to  assault  that  with  forty  num.  He  executed 
the  comnuind  with  great  gallantry,  and  killed  two  warridis. 
Wlien  Sc(»tt  gained  the  sujumit  of  the  eminence  which  over- 
looks the  villages  on  the  bankh  of  the  Wabash,  he  discovered 
the  enemy  in  great  confusion,  endeavoring  to  make  their 
escape  over  the  river  in  canoes.  lie  instantly  ordered  Lieut. 
Colonel-commandant  Wilkinson  to  rush  forward  with  the  first 
battalion.  The  order  was  executed  with  promptitude,  and  this 
detachment  gained  the  bank  of  the  river  just  as  the  rear  of  the 
enemy  had  embarked;  and,  regardless  of  a  brisk  tire  kept  up 
from  the  Kickapoo  town  on  the  opposite  bank,  tliey,  in  a  tew 
minutes,  by  a  well  directed  lire  from  their  rities,  destroyed  all 
the  savages  with  which  five  canoes  were  crowded.  To  Scittt's 
great  mortification  the  Wabash  was  many  feet  beyond  fording 
at  this  place;  he  therefore  detached  Col.  Wilkinson  to  a  ford 
two  miles  above,  which  the  guides  informed  him  was  more 
practicable.  Wilkinson  moved  the  first  battalion  up  to  the 
fording  place  but  found  it  impassable  and  returned.  The 
enemy  still  kept  possession  of  Kickapoo  town,  but  Scott  deter- 
mined to  dislodge  thejn,  and  for  that  pur})ose  ordered  Capt. 
King  and  Logsdone's  companies  to  inarch  down  the  river 
below  the  town,  and  cross,  under  the  conduct  of  Major  Barhoe. 
Several  of  the  men  swam  the  river,  and  others  passed  in  a 
tr'al'i  canoe.  This  movement  was  unobserved;  and  the  men 
had  taken  post  on  the  bank  before  they  were  discovered  by 
the  enemy,  who  immediately  abandoned  the  village.  About 
this  time  word  was  brought  to  Scott  that  Col.  Hardin  was 

*  Peck's  Coiupiliition 


OK,   TIIK    IIOKMKK    WAIW    <>K    TWO   TKNTIRIKH. 


215 


etKiiiiilii'rcd  with  priKoiierH,  and  liiui  diHcovcrud  a  ntroii^ur 
villiij^t'  further  to  his  lett  tlian  thoHi;  Scrott  had  olmcrvt'd,  which 
he  wa«  ])i'(>cetHlin^  to  attack.  Th»>  (it'iu'ral  imiiuMliately 
(li'tiulu'd  (Japtain  Mrowu  witli  hit*  (•(unjiany,  to  BUpport  the 
('()lt»ii«'l;  hilt  tlu'  diHtaiice  heing  wix  niile«,  ln't'ore  the  ('a|>tain 
arrived  the  hiiHineHti  \vm  done,  aii*l  (\)I.  Hardin  joine<l  him  a 
little  l)et()re  bun-Hot,  having  kilh'd  nix  warriorH  and  taken  fifty- 
two  prisoners,  (ajttain  Jiull,  the  warrior  who  liad  diHcovere*! 
the  iinny  in  tlie  morning,  had  gained  the  main  town  and  given 
tlie  alarm  a  short  time  before  the  troops  reached  it,  hut  tlie 
((tlier  vilhiges  were  not  aware  of  their  approacli,  and  could, 
therefore,  nuike  no  retreat.  The  next  morning  (^en.  Scott 
(k'tuehed  three  hundred  And  sixty  men  under  Col.  Wilkinson, 
to  (k'stroy  the  important  town  of  Tippecanoe,  eighteen  milea 
from  the  cam])  on  the  Wabash.  The  detachment  left  at  half- 
past  five  in  tlie  evening,  but  returned  at  one  o'clock  on  the 
next  (Uiy,  having  marched  thirty-six  miles  in  twelve  hours  and 
destroyed  the  most  important  settlement  of  tlie  enemy. 

Although  this  expedition  under  Scott  was  successful,  Gov- 
enior  St.  Clair  determined  to  seiul  another  against  the  villages 
of  Eel  river,  and  Wilkinson  was  aj)pointed  to  the  comnnmd. 
He  inarched  from  Fort  Washington  on  the  lirst  of  August, 
and  reached  the  Wabash  on  the  seventh,  just  above  the  mouth 
of  the  river  he  was  in  search  of.  At  this  point  he  received 
word  that  the  Indians  on  Eel  Itiver  had  been  warned  of  his 
approach,  and  were  preparing  lt>r  a  flight.  A  general  charge 
was  immediately  ordered.  The  men,  forcing  their  way  over 
every  obstacle,  plunged  through  the  river  and  scaled  the  banks 
beyond.  The  enemy  was  unable  to  nuike  the  smallest  resist- 
ance. Six  warriors,  two  squawks  and  a  child  were  killed,  and 
thirty-four  prisoners  were  taken,  and  an  unfortunate  captive 
released,  with  a  loss  on  the  side  of  the  Americans  of  two  men 
killed  and  one  wounded.  Wilkinson  encamped  in  the  town  that 
nijrlit,  and  the  next  morning  he  cut  up  the  corn,  scarcely  in  the 
milk,  burnt  the  cabins,  mounted  the  young  warriors,  squaws 
and  children,  and  leaving  two  infirm  squaws  and  a  child,  with 
a  short  talk,  he  commenced  his  march  for  the  Kickapoo  town 
in  the  prairie.     But  this  village  was  not  reached.     The  horses 


210 


THK    I.IVfclM   MK    IHtMIAr    AMI>    rK(!UMHKIi; 


w«ro  too  8ort»,  uikI  tlio  ho^i*  too  jlrcp;  l»uf  uh  (Ji'iuTiil  Wilkin- 
Hoii  rtuid,  four  Imiulrwi  ucrcH  ot'  com  wcio  (Kwtroyed,  uinl  w 
Kickapoo  town  ^ivcti  to  tlie  tliimos;  tor  which  tho  Ciciicrul  wiw 
duly  thauko«l  hy  hin  country.  NLountimo,  whilo  I'roi't.ir  wuh 
Htteinptin^  to  hurry  thu  Kh)W-tnoviiig  Inxpioirt,  who  told  liim 
it  took  thcni  a^rciit  while  to  think;  an<l  Wilkinnon  waH  tloimd. 
ering  up  to  hirt  arin-pitn  in  mud  and  water,  atnon^'  tht) 
tnoraHHOrt  of  the  Wahasli;  the  needful  preparationn  wer«!  con- 
rttantly  ^oinj<  forward  for  the  ^reat  «\\pedition  of  St.  Cliiir, 
whicli,  hy  founding  j)oritH  throu»^ho»it  the  wcHtern  country, 
from  tiie  Ohio  to  Lake  pj'ie,  and  CHpecially  at  the  head  (»t'  tho 
Maumee,  was  to  give  tho  United  iStaten  ariure  niean«  of  control 
over  tho  savajfes.* 

Governor  St.  (JIair  received  full   instructlonHf  for  the  cam. 


*  i'uck'*  Comptlutlun. 

t  Tho  inRtriu-tluiiii  tu  St.  Cliiir  for  thti  campaign  wuro  communlcntttd  to  him  hy  (iiu. 
Knox,  ill  tht'  followiiiif  hiiiKUii|!<!:  Tho  Pr^gldi-nt  of  lli»!  I'nitcd  Mdiii'H  havliii;,  hy  mid 
wllli  tho  lulvloi!  tind  coiiHi'iit  of  th«  SiMiiite,  uppointud  you  a  MiOor  Oeiicrnl  In  the  fvr- 
viuo  of  thu  United  Htiiti'ii.  and  of  conBiMiuunco  invt>iiti!d  you  with  tlio  chlcT  coiiiiniind  h! 
th<i  troopH  lobo  oinpluyud  upon  till!  rroiitlur«  diirini;  thu  ctiHUIni;  cumpiilun.  Il  Ih  |>rci|i(>r 
tliiit  yuu  itliould  bo  poHiioffiod  of  thu  vluvv^  of  thu  t;ov»riiiiiunt  ruf>puctini;  thi!  oli|ri.'tR  i>r 
your  coinmiind.  I  am,  tliurorori',  nuthorl/.t>d  and  comniundud,  by  thit  I'ruHidi'iit  of  tlio 
(Jnltrd  ^tatuH,  tu  delivur  you  thu  following  ini<trucliun»,  in  urdur  tu  nurvu  an  the  j^'imumiiI 
princlplua  of  your  coiiduiU. 

But,  it  Ih  only  uontTal  princlpluM  which  can  bu  polntod  out.  In  thu  oxocutlon  cii'  tli>j 
diitlod  of  your  Htatlon,  ulrcumHtancu*  which  cannot  now  he  foroDucn  iiiiiy  arlnu  to  rrndir 
iimturlal  duviatioUB  nucuHMary.  .Such  ulrcutiiiitancuR  will  r»><iulru  tho  uxurdsu  oi' vmir 
talcntK.  Tlio  (»ovurnmunt  pohsuhbur  tho  Bocurity  of  your  chaructur  and  niaturi!  uxpiTl- 
i-ncu,  tliat  your  JudRniont  will  bu  proper  on  all  occailong.  You  nru  wull  iiifuriiiudor  ilm 
uiifavoral>lo  iuipreHslonii  which  tho  Ihruu  of  thu  luRt  oxpudition  lian  made  on  tliu  |iilliilc 
mind,  and  you  aru  alHO  aware  of  tho  oxpuctationa  which  arc  forinod  of  thu  huccuhh  iifiliu 
uni>uini{  campaign. 

.\n  Indian  war,  undur  any  circumstancuR,  Ib  regarded  by  thu  i;i-(Mtt  iiiiibH  of  thu  pvipju 
of  thu  United  Status  as  an  ovent  which  oui^ht,  if  poMilhlu,  to  bu  avoldud.  It  Isi  cmiHid- 
orud  that  the  Hacrittcu  of  l>lood  and  truaxuro  In  such  a  war  oxcoud  any  advanlat^cs  wliiili 
can  poBslbly  bu  ruapud  by  it.  Thu  (,'i'uat  policy,  thurcforo,  of  thu  ^'un(•ral  K'ovuninn'iil.i!' 
to  uMtabliHli  a  JUHt  and  libural  pttacu  with  all  tho  Indian  trll)uH  witliiii  thu  lliiiitH  and  in 
tho  vicinity  of  tho  territory  of  thu  I'liltud  Status.  Your  iiitlniatioiiH  to  thu  hoHiile  Iiidi- 
and,  linmediatuly  after  llio  latu  uxpuditlon,  throui^h  thu  Wyaiidot.s  and  I)»^lawarc»;  tlio 
arrangoinuiitH  with  thu  Sunecas  who  wuru  latuly  in  this  city,  that  part  of  thu  Six  ■Natimm 
ithould  repair  to  thu  said  hostllu  MdianH,  to  Intluuncu  thuin  to  imcillc  niuamiruH;  tn^'ctlicr 
with  thu  rucuiil  iniHHlon  of  Colonul  Proctor  to  thuni  for  thu  nainu  purpodu,  will  Htroiiijljr 
evincu  thu  duilru  of  thu  gt'iiural  Kovernmeiit  to  pruvunt  thu  utI'UHlon  of  blond,  and  'o 
quiet  all  diMturbanccB.  And  whun  you  hIuiII  arrlvi!  ii|io!i  tho  froutlurt<.  If  any  otlior  or 
I'urtliur  niuasures  to  uft'cct  tliuHamo  ol>juct  Khuiild  pruHunt,  you  will  uagurly  uiiihrufc 
thoni,  and  thu  rcuBonablu  uxpenuoH  thoruof  nhall  bu  dufraycd  t)y  thu  public.  Huf,  if  all 
tho  lenient  mcaiiuruH  taken,  or  which  may  bu  taken,  ulioiild  fall  to  brlnj,'  thu  hoHtllc  Iiidi- 
anB  to  u  JUBt  BunHu  of  thuir  Hltuatlon,  it  will  bu  nucuHwtry  tiiat  you  Bhould  uhu  xiicli 
coercive  nioHnB  as  you  «ball  posBUBB,  for  that  pnrpoHo.    You  arc  informed  that,  by  an  lict 


mmmimmmm 


^^-^^^>&^- 


y-^w\c>^^' 


BRANT,  THE  MOHAWK  CHIEFTAIN 


|)Hi^ri,  HI 

(•|l>Hl»  (»!' 

wliicli  |Mi 

IlifiiiM  \V( 

Oil  thr 

toll,  tlllll 
IUM<)llllU'< 
ortilHTH    a 

tliiH  iiiiin 
in^  two   I 
Fort  VViirt 
(tvcotul  ill 

of  ('iiiiKri'liH, 
nillltiiry  <<ititb 

dF  iIx  IIIUIltllH 

rc'i{iiliirii  and 
July.    In  thU 
bcpilili'it  li'iivin 

hrrt'llllll'tiT  Mil 

mi'imcni,'i'rn  of 
thi'iiiMclvuii  uU 
'iiiUH  III  tlioir  I 
Hriilt,  of  Kcnti 
tititti'ii,  to  ninki 
miit'om,  or  nil! 
"(Uci'm  includti 
it  In  <  iinUdod  (< 
(lltlonN  uf  mum 
t).v  II  m'cund  doi 
pri'pii'iit  1)0  forn 
lii'uri'r,  dvpund 
liii»i'  hi'un  form 
liiivi'  iipon  tlio  1 
><•'  Mill  hoitllul 
piirtlcH. 

Villi  will  obi 
iilmi'lH  for  the  I 
Hff  to  he  troatiH 
l(liiilii(,'i"g,  nfterj 
>"«  urn  makhiK 
rwiiiliT,  you  will 
the  main  oxpedl 
if  no  di'ciglvo  In 
or  t>.v  the  doniill 
oniiTto  ('Htablls 
yiHi  will  estiiblli 
you  limy  Jiul«o  1 
•wini,'  iind  curbl 
•IlitlcH.  It  Ollgll 
IndlauH.  The  gi 
for  till!  dufonse  c 


*>K,    rilK    llitKllKK     «N 


OK    iW      "(tXtrKIM. 


217 


piii^ii,  uihI  |>riMiT<h'«l  at  onct  tu  .m'j^hu'w  IiIh  iinny.  At  tlio 
il.iHi' ot'  April,  171M,  lu(  wiw  in  IMttMlMirj^li  ( K<u"t  l*itt,)  tow»ir<U 
wliicli  point  ti'ooprt  tVorii  nil  <|Uiirturrt,  hoi'HuH,  ntoruH  and  uininu- 
iiitit»ti  w»'rt»  ^oiii^  t'orwurd. 

Om  tliu  fltt«'»'iitli  of  May,  St.  Cluir  michod  Fort  WuHhiiij?- 
toll,  uikI  lit  tliut  tiiiio,  tliu  11  tiitt*<l  StutcH  troupM  in  tliu  VVitHt 
iitiiiiiintt>«l  to  lint  two  lintKJrcMl  tind  Hixty-t'onr  non-coinrniHMii>ne<l 
orilcciH  uihI  privut»'K  Ht  tor  duty.  On  tlm  tit'tcentli  of  Jidy, 
tliiri  ninnlior  wum  nioro  tliun  donMud,  hm  tlu>  HrHt  refill lucnt,  run- 
iiig  two  hnndred  and  ninuty-nine  tnvn,  on  timt  duy  rcmrhud 
Foit  WuMliin^ton.  (ioiM'rul  Mntlrr,  who  hud  iMfti  appointed 
dt'cotid  in  cutnnnind,  wiirt  employed  through  part  uf  April  and 

of  CoiiKrcKii,  |)a»ii4l  thu  vucdiiiI  liint.,  uunthur  ri'ulm)>rit  li  tu  b«  mlicd,  anil  addiul  to  tliu 
mllltiiry  t)»lublliliiii«iit,  aiitl  itrovlalon  uiHtln  fur  rulnltiK  two  llioiiaHnil  IotIu*,  for  Ihii  torni 
iif  ilx  iiiuiitliN,  for  thii  it(>i'vli-ii  of  tliii  frontli'ri.  It  l>  coiiti>in|iliittMl  that  thu  iiuii  of  th(> 
ri'i{iil«rii  and  liivlo*  inity  Im  rurriiltud  mid  rundojivoiiii  at  Fort  Wu«hlnKton,  by  thatunthof 
July.  In  tliUvntii,  you  will  Imvu  MmsniliUid  «  forcn  of  tliri<«  thoumiiid  ulfuctlvoa  at  Itinat, 
holili'x  li'iivlnit  xniull  KurrlHoim  on  thu  Ohio,  In  ord<>r  to  pHrforni  your  main  uxpudlttun, 
hereinafter  nicnlloniul,  Hut,  In  thu  nivnntlmu,  If  tlii<  Indiana  rcfiiau  to  llaton  to  tho 
ini!M<'ni{i<ra  of  puiivu  aunt  to  thoni,  It  la  muat  prohnhlii  thny  will,  unloat  prevoDtud,  aproad 
Ihi'inHi'lvui  alouK  thu  llnu  of  frontlera,  for  thu  purpoau  of  uoiiiiiilttInK  all  tho  dopradu- 
'iiiUH  In  Ihuir  powur.  In  ordiT  to  avoid  ao  cnlninltoua  an  uvunt,  BriKndlur  Ui-noral  Churlua 
Hrittt,  of  KunUU'ky,  haabuun  atithorliiiMl  by  nu>,  on  Ihti  part  of  thu  I'rualduntof  thu  llnltud 
Stiiti'ii.  to  iiiakit  nn  uxpi'dltlon  axnlnat  tho  Wua,  or  Uulatunon  towna,  with  niountud  vol- 
uiitt'orM,  or  inllltin  from  Kuiitucky,  not  oxceodlnit  thu  uumbur  of  anvvii  liundrud  and  llfty, 
iilUi'i'm  Ini'ludud.  You  will  purci-lvu,  by  tha  Inatructluna  to  llrlKiidlurOoiiural  Hcott,  thiit 
It  Ih  iDMtldud  to  your  diarri'tlon,  whuthur  thuru  ahould  b«  moro  than  ono  of  tho  aitid  uxpu- 
illilonB  of  muiintod  voluiitoura  ornillltln.  Yonr  nearer  vluw  of  the  objocta  to  bu  ctfurtod, 
by  a  itirond  duHiiltory  I'xpodltlon,  will  untibln  you  to  torm  a  butter  Jiidh;ini>nt  than  can  at 
prvHcnt  liu  formed  at  tlila  diatiincu.  Tht;  proprluty  of  aaucond  opriutlon  would,  in  aomo 
ili'L'ri'e,  dupund  on  thu  alAcrlty  and  good  compoaltion  of  thu  troopx  of  which  thu  llratmay 
liiive  Ix'un  formed;  of  Itn  Mucciiaa;  of  the  probable  effiM-ta  a  second  xlmlliir  blow  would 
huvi'  upon  thu  Indluna,  with  nvapuct  toltii  Inlluunclnit  them  to  peace;  or.  If  they  ahould 
be  Ktill  hoatlluly  diapoaud,  of  pruvuntlnK  thnm  from  duaolatinu  thu  ft'ontlura  by  their 
piirtlcH. 

Ydii  will  obaervn.  In  thu  Inatructlona  to  Rrlttudler  Ouiieral  Hcott,  which  are  to  aurvo  aa 
iihiiniN  for  tho  InalriictlonH  of  the  communderH  who  may  auccuud  him,  that  all  captlvua 
ari'to  lie  treated  with  Kfcat  humanity.  It  will  be  aound  policy  to  attract  thu  Indiana  by 
kiiKliieiiR,  nfturdumonatratlnL;  to  thum  our  power  to  punUh  tliuni,  on  all  orcualona.  While 
viiu  are  makini;  auch  uae  of  dcNultory  operationa  aa  In  your  Judgment  thu  occasion  may 
rciiHJi'e,  you  will  proceed  vi^oroUHly,  In  every  operotlon  in  your  power,  for  the  purpoau  of 
the  main  expedition ;  and  having  aaaemblud  your  forcu,  and  nil  thinitM  buint;  In  readiness, 
if  no  declalvu  Indications  of  peace  Hhould  have  beou  produced,  ulthcr  by  the  mcaaengos, 
or  by  tlio  desultory  operations,  you  will  communcn  your  march  for  thu  Miami  vlliaijo.  In 
order  to  eatublish  a  stroni;  and  permanent  military  poat  at  thn»,  place.  In  your  idvance, 
yiiii  will  uatubilsh  such  poatit  of  communlcittlon  with  Fort  W'ashlnKton,  on  tho  Ohio,  as 
you  may  Jud){o  proper.  Thu  post  at  the  Miami  villagu  Is  intended  for  thu  purpoau  of 
awlnif  and  curbing  tho  Indians  in  that  quarter,  and  as  tho  only  preventive  of  future  hos- 
tillticH.  It  ought,  therefore,  to  bo  rendered  Mucure  atjalnst  all  attempts  and  Insults  of  the 
IndiauH.  Thu  garrison  which  siiouid  bo  Ktatlouud  thuru  ought  not  only  to  bu  sutllcluut 
for  thu  dufuuse  of  thu  place,  but  always  tontlord  a  dutiiuhment  of  Qvo  or  six  hundred 


♦J  IS 


TIIM   1.1  VM  or   IHiNTIAtl   \>>0   OU'lMH^Ji: 


Mav  in  ohtitliilrt^  I'cfriiitM,  Uut  wlhtt  <il)tiiliii>«l,  tlM>r«*  whm  rii, 
iiioru'v  to  |tiiv  tlii'iii,  nor  to  pi'ovitk  ^lurvM  lor  >  li«*iii.  In  tin 
<|iiart«'riiiu^trr'i«  <lt'|»urtiiM'nl,  iiicutithprn,  vvcrytliiii^  wirit  nu 
mIowIv  iinti  Itinllv;  ti'titn,  |)uck-Miul<ll/««s  Kottlun,  kiiupHurkH  uinl 
ciirtri*!^)  lio\«>rt  wi>ri>  all  "ilcHcit'iit  in  iiuuiititv  uiid  ijiiulitv." 
Wuntu  fimn  tliiH,  thi>  powilcr  wuh.  )H»or  or  iiijiiriMl,  tlu>  urtiix 
iitiil  uci'oiitrcint'iitM  out  of  r«<|)uir.  uii*l  not  «>V(<n  propfr  tiHiU 
to  nu-iMl  tlit'Mt.  An«l  iiH  tlx'  troops  pitlicrol  at  Kurt 
Wit.<«liiii^ton,  utter  wniriHointt  )l«'t«'MtionH  ut  i'ittHhnr^h  tmil 
U|)on  tlu>  river,  u  new  honrce  of  trouMeh  iir«me,  in  the  liul)ir<. 
ot'  int«'ni|K'ninfe  induljjjed  un<l  iH'(|uiri'»|  l»y  the  Idlern.  Ti' 
witlitliuw    tlieni    from    teniptiition,   St.    Cliiir    uuh    forced  to 

iitt'ii  i'ii|i<rtii  I'lmnilxi'  iiiiy  of  lhi<  Wiiliii'*li,  i>r  ollnT  hoailli'  tiullnnii,  tr  tomM-iiru  nii)  r.iii 
viiv  lit  |iriivli)|(itii).  'rill'  rutnlillaliiiii'tii  lit  ■iH'li  II  poiit  li  I  iiiiiilili'ri'il  in  iiii  liii|iiiriitiii 
iihji'i't  it  Ihi'  LMiii|iiilt{ii,  mill  la  til  tiiki'  pliii'i'  III  nil  I'M'iiiii,  III  rii«ii  lit  II  |irrvliiii>  iri'iui 
till-  IkiiIIiiiik  iiri>  to  Uv  I'luiillliiti'il  iipoii  tlil*  |ioliil.  If  piHrnllilf;  Mini  It  U  pri'iiiiini'il.  i^inni 
urumiii'iit*  limy  lie  ntti'ml,  to  ltiiliiri<  llii'lr  nri|iili'iiri'iii'it,  Thi'  iiXuutliin,  iiiitiir<'  uml  am 
ulrurrliiii  iif  till'  wiirkH  )iiii  iiiiiy  itlrn  I,  mIII  iIi'IH'IhI  ii|iiiii  your  nwii  Jmlitiiii'iit  Mnjur 
Ki'ruiiniiii.  iiT  till'  iirtllli'ry,  »lll  Im'  lillly  rii|iiilili'  of  tlii'  I'Xi'ciitliiii.  Mi'  yi\[\  lio  riiriil>li<'i| 
Willi  ttiri'i'  tl\i'  mill  II  liiiiriiirli  liiiMlt/iTN.  tliri'i'  hIx  |Hiiiiiili'ri<,  miil  iliri'K  iliri'i'iiimiulirv 
nil  i^rnMM.  vvlili  ii  xiiltlili'iil  i|iimillty  iil'  Kliut  iiiiil  ulu'lln,  for  tlii'  piiriioii'  uf  thu  vx|iii(lltliin 
Till.  ii|i|iro|irliiiliiii  III'  tlii'Hi'  pli'i'i'ii  will  ili'pi'iiil  iipuii  ymir  iiriliTK. 

Iliivliii;  uoiiiiiiviiri'il  your  iiinri'li.  iipmi  ttin  iiiitlii  rxpi'illtlnii,  iiiiil  tlii'  liiilliiiiii  ciiiiliuii' 
lllli  liimtllis  you  will  ilMi' I'Vi'ry  piixnliilf  rXiTtimi  to  iintki'  llii'lii  I'nt'l  lln' i'tri'rti>  of  \iiiir 
miliiTliirlty ;  uml  iifti'i-  liiivliiu  nrrlvi'il  ut  llii'  Mluiiii  vIIIuki',  uiiiI  put  ymir  workM  in  nili'ii'u 
■  I  tile  Htiitt',  Villi  Mill  Hii'k  till'  I'lii'iny  witli  tliii  wtioli'  iif  your  ri'iiiui  ill  iii^  rorii',  niiil  ■'iiii<'iit>ir 
l>v  nil  piiMiillilu  iiii'iiiiN,  In  Mlrlki'  tliciii  witli  ({ri'iil  Hi'Vi-rlty.  n  will  tir  li'ft  In  ymr  i||< 
I'Trtliiii  wlii'tliiT  to  I'tiiploy,  it'  iitlnliinlili'.  niiy  niillniiii  of  tlif  Mix  NuIIoiim.  uimI  iIk 
i'liirkiiMUMii  or  otliiT  Soiitlii'rii  iiiitliiiiii.  Moiit  pmliulily  tlm  miipinviiii'tit  or  iilioiit  lUty  .it 
I'lirli.  iiiiiliT  till' ilir'Tlioii  of  Niiiiii'  illiirrri'l  uiiil  itliii'  rlili'f,  woiilil  lii>  uilvuiituci'iiim,  luil 
tlii'Ki'  iiiiulil  not  III  III'  nmii'tiiliU'd  lit'lorn  tlio  lliii'  of  iiiarch  Ik  tukrii  up.  Ih'iuiihi'  tiioyjiri' 
Noiiii  tiri'il  uikI  will  not  In'  iIi'IiiIik'iI.  1'Iii'  fori'u  rnntriiipliiti'il  for  t hi'  uitrrlniiiiii  nf  tin' 
Miiiinl  Yillui(i',  uml  tlir  riiinniiiiiUuitloiiN,  Iiun  lin'ii  rnnii  u  tlioiiKuml  to  twi'Ki' liiiiiilr"4 
lion  I'omiiiiHNioiii'il  iitllnrH  uml  privuti'ii.  'riiln  In  ui>'iitioni'il  nx  i\  ^''txTuI  Idi'u.  to  whidi 
ymi  will  uilliiTi'.  Ill'  I'riiiii  wlili'li  vmi  will  ili'vluti'.  iih  clrriiiiii'tHnri'H  may  iiiiulru.  Tli" 
KurriHoii  Htiitiiiiii'il  lit  tint  Miniiii  vlllut{i'.  uml  ItH  oiiiiiiiiinlcutionH.  niiint  linvi' in  Kturi'.ii 
li'iiHt  Mix  imintliH  i;iioil  huIIi'iI  iiii-iit.  ami  tloiir  In  proportion. 

It  Ik  liiirilly  pni-Kllili'.  it'  tliii  InilluiiK  loiitliiiii'  liontiii',  that  yoii  \\ill  hr  hiiIVitciI  i|iili'tlt 
to  cHtalillHli  u  poBi  at  thr  Mriinii  vlllu);i';  lonttlitp,  tlii'ri'fori',  may  lir  I'XpiTti'd ;  'inil  ll  I- 
to  III'  pri'HUini'il  thai  iliHt'lplincil  valor  will  triiiiitph  ovvr  iimliHcipliiii'd  liidlunii.  In  ihl< 
event  It  in  prolialilr  that  thi'  IndianH  will  kiii'  I'nr  prni'i';  If  tliNHhoiild  lie  the  ('ai4i<,  tlh' 
dl;{iill<  of  the  I'lilted  Slatim  will  ri'<|iilre  t lull  the  terinx  mIioiiIiI  be  lilieriil.  In  nrilcrin 
avoid  fnltire  war",  ll  niiulit  lie  proper  to  make  theWuliaHh,  tlieneeover  to  the  Mlninl. 'iiil 
down  the  Nanic  to  itn  iiioiith  at  l.uke  Krie.  the  hoiimlary.  exeeptilii;  ho  t'ur  iih  the  hiiiih' 
ulinnld  relate  to  the  \V;'andolH  and  DelawureH.  on  the  MiippoHltinn  of  their  ennlliiii'ii.' 
railhrnl  to  the  treatii'H.  lint,  if  they  iihonid  join  In  the  war  au'ainiit  the  I'nili  il  Stiilir 
nnd  yoiir  army  he  vletorlmiH,  the  huIiI  IiIIiik  oiiu'ht  to  lie  removed  wilhonl  the  tioiiiiiliir> 
niL'iitioiiud,  Von  will  alno  Judue  whether  ll  wniildlie  proper  to  extuiid  the  iioniiiUrv 
from  the  innlith  of  the  Klver  aii  Punne  of  the  WuliaKh,  In  a  due  west  line  to  the  Mli'iii' 
nippi.  F(iw  imliaiiH,  lieHiden  the  Klckapoon.  wonlil  he  ulfected  liy  hiu'Ii  u  line;  thin  iiiiuht 
tobu  tenderly  nmnageiL    The  niudltluutlonuf  the  huundary  intut  bu  cuiiildud  to  your  dli 


OH,    iilK    ttiiiniKli    WAIM   oy   TWO  CIKN'lt  KIM. 


2n» 


rrniovr  l>i»  iiu^ii,  ii<»w  tniiiil><>riii^  two  tlioiiHiiiitl,  to  l.ii«llow'rt 
Station,  ulNMit  Mix  iiiiUw  tVorii  tlm  tort.  Ilcru  tliv  urtiiy  ii>ii* 
tiiiii«'<l  until  tliu  Mtviiiittu'iitli  ot'  St'pti'iitlHT,  wlifti,  living  two 
tlioiimiiiil  tlirtti*  liiiii(||-(!il  Htroii^,  exclusive  ot'  niilitiii,  it  iiiovrd 
t'ltrwuni  to  II  point  upon  tin*  (^ri'ut  Miunii,  wIhti!  Tort  llitinil* 
tun  wu-t  luiiit,  till)  HrHt  in  tin;  pt-opoH«><l  cliuin  of  t'oitrcHHcM. 
Till'*  ix'iti^  i'onipli*tu<l,  tlir  ti'oopH  niovfd  on  t'orty-totir  milcrt 
tiirtlu'f,  iintl  on  tint  twrlf'th  of  OctoU'r,  t'orniiM'n«'t'(|  Korl  .Irtlrr- 
iH)ii,  ui)out  hIx  inili'H  Houtli  of  till'  town  of  (IrrcnvilU*.  On  tlif 
twvnty-foiirtli,  tliu  toilnoinr  niui'iili  through  tlio  wiltlcrtifM 
Ix'^iiri  iiifuin,  At  tliiH  time  tliu  coinniundi't'-in-cliiff,  wIiomo 
<|iitii>r«  tlii'ou^li  tilt'  MinirniT  liiul  licun  very  Hin'crc,  wiih  HuH«'i'in^ 
tViiiii  itM  iniliripoHitioii  which  wum  l>y  tiiruH  in  hin  Hfoinuch,  Iuii^k 
uihI  tiiiil)K;  jtroviHionH  wen;  Hcurct*,  thu  nmU  wet  un<l  heavy, 
t\w  troopH  ^oin^  with  much  ditHculty,  huvuii  mih'H  n  «|iiy;  the 
iiiilitiii  (UiHertin^  nixty  ut  u  timo.  TIium  toiling  tilon^,  the  army, 
ru|)i<lly  leriH(>iiiti^  hy  (leHurtion,  HiekneHH,  nnd  ti'oopH  Hent  tu 
aiieht  (leHertei'H,  on  the  third  of  NovemU^r  reiu'hud  ii  ntreiim 
twelve  yiirdrt  wide,  whieh  St.  (luir  MUppoHu<l  to  he  the  8t.  Miiry 
of  the    Muiimeu,   but  whieh   wnrt   in  ruulity  u  liruneh    of   tliu 


crutlDii,  with  thii  kIdkIu  ••tixurvuiloii,  ilml  thu  policy  nnil  liiti<ruiit  of  th«  rnUml  Hinti'it 
dlrliiii'  Ihi'lr  tx'liitt  nt  iiciii'it  with  tho  IihIIiiiim.  TIiIk  In  of  nmri*  vitliuf  than  iiiIIIIdiim  of 
uiii'iilllvntiMl  ikcri'M,  the  rlitht  to  which  iint.v  ho  roiici'iltMl  liy  nonit',  aiitl  iil>|mti'il  l>y  othitrx. 
Thi'iniiilillKliiiu'iit  of  n  poNt  At  th«  MIntiil  vllliitti*  will  itnibiilily  Ito  ri'i^iinli'il.  hy  iho  itrlt|p<h 
iilHci'm  on  th)'  OontliTu,  bn  a  clrcnniMtiiiiro  of  Jfiilouiiy ;  It  niny,  thcn-lori',  hi>  iii'rt'iiNiiry 
that  yoii  nhonlil,  nt  n  propxr  tlino,  inukc  Miuh  InliinntionM  iim  niiiy  ri'iiiovi>  nil  Hiu-h  iUHpiml 
tloiiM  Thin  iiillnmtlon  hiiil  hctlcr  follow  thiin  pri'ci'iii'  thu  poMHi'imloti  of  t|ii>  poMi,  uiilrNi* 
clrriiiiiHinnci^M  dU'tntit  othoiwlMo.  Ax  It  Ih  not  the  hu'lliintloii  or  lnti'ri-»t  of  thu  CnltuU 
Httiti'Kto  tuittT  into  ucotitcHt  wlthOri'ut  liriiuln,  uvury  incitMtiri' Iriidlii).' toiiiiy  (liiicii>o<loii 
orultiTciillon  iiiUHt  hi!  provciitcd,  Tho  ili'lli'iilu  xitlliUloii  of  iilfiilm  iimy.  thiTcforu,  rciLdiT 
It  linpriipt'i'.  lit  prcKi'nt,  to  ninkn  tiny  iiiiviil  tirrtint(i>tnont  upon  Lake  Krii-.  AfiiTyou  Iihvi> 
ftfiMii'il  all  lilt!  Injury  to  tin-  hoHtlU'  iMdiniiH  of  which  your  I'orcc  may  In-  capnlilc.  uiiil  ufli'r 
lmviiii{  cittahllHhcd  the  poKtH  and  KarrlMoiiN  at  tin'  Mlanil  vllla^'cH  and  IIm  coniiniinlcatlnriH, 
and  iilaclnt;  the  Hanic  under  thu  ordHrx  of  an  ultluur  worthy  of  Hnch  hluh  triiiit,  you  will 
return  lo  Foi't  Wanhin^jlou, 

it  U  proper  to  ohHervii,  tluit  cortuln  JiMiioimifii  have  cxWtcd  ainoni;  tho  pcopU;  of  tint 
rrniiilcri*,  rLdatlvu  to  a  mippoxt'd  liiturfurciiuu  hutwucn  thoir  Intcn-Mt,  and  thoitu  of  tho 
iiiurliii!  Ht»tt?M;  that  thcKo  JcaloiiNlcH  arc  ill  foiindiid.  with  rcNpccI  to  the  prcHcnt  ^'ovvrn- 
mcril.  in  ohviouM.  The  tlnlted  Staten  enihrnce,  with  e<|iiiil  care,  all  partn  of  thu  I'nion; 
mill.  In  till!  |>reNent  caHc,  are  niakint;  expeiiNlve  arrnnijeniuntH  for  the  protection  of  the 
friinilcrH,  and  partly  In  thi;  iiiodeH,  to4>,  which  appear  to  he  hli;hly  favored  liy  the  Kentucky 
pi.'iiple. 

The  hluh  Btntiunii  you  (Hi,  of  commander  of  the  troopo,  and  Oovornor  of  tlio  Wunlern  Tei 
rltor).  will  afford  you  frei|iient  opportnnitleM  to  inipreHH  the  frontier  cIti/euN  of  the  entire 
KiiodilUpoiiltlon  of  the  i;>'nernl  Kovurnnient  towardHthuni  in  nil  ruaHonahle  thlnuH.  and 
you  will  rundur  ncceptulde  Merviuu.  hy  cordially  cinhracing  all  itncii  opportunltluB. 


220 


TIIK    r.IVKS    OK    I-ONTIAC;    AND   TKtniMHKIi: 


Wabash.  Upon  the  banks  of  this  Stream  St.  (Mair,  with  hiw  army, 
about  fourteen  hundred  strong,  encainpod  in  two  lines.  The 
riglit  wing,  composed  of  Butler's,  Clark's  and  Patterson's  battal- 
ions, commanded  by  Major-General  Butler,  formed  the  Hist 
line;  and  the  left  wing,  consisting  of  Bedinger's  and  (Jaither's 
battalions,  and  the  second  regiment,  comnumded  by  Lieut.- 
Col.  Drake,  formed  the  second  line,  with  an  interval  between 
them  of  about  seventy  yards,  which  was  all  the  ground  would 
allow.  The  light  flank  was  pretty  well  secured  by  the  creek,  a 
steep  bank,  and  Faulkner's  corps  and  some  of  the  cavah*y  cov- 
ered the  letl  flank.  The  militia  were  thrown  over  the  creek, 
and  advanced  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  afiid  encamped  in  the 
same  order.  There  were  a  few  fndians  who  appeared  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  creek,  but  fled  with  the  utmost  precipita- 
tion, on  the  advance  of  the  militia.  \ 

At  this  place,  which  St.  Clair  judged  to  be  about  flfteen 
miles  from  the  Miami  village,  he  determined  to  throw  up  a 
slight  work  for  the  protection  of  the  knapsacks  and  the  hag- 
gage,  and  to  move  thence  on  to  attack  the  enemy  as  soon  as  the 
first  regiment  should  come  up.  But  in  this  he  was  disap- 
pointed, for  on  the  fourth,  about  half  an  hour  before  sunset 
and  when  the  men  had  just  been  dismissed  from  parade,  an 
attack  was  made  upon  the  militia,  which  gave  way  in  a  short 
time  and  rushed  into  camp  through  Major  Butler's  battalion, 
tl^e  Indians  following  close  at  their  heels.  The  tire,  however, 
of  the  front  line  checked  them,  but  almost  instantly  a  very 
heavy  attack  begun  upon  that  line,  and  in  a  few  minutes  it  was 
extended  to  the  second  line.  The  great  weight  of  it  was 
directed  against  the  centre  of  each,  where  the  artillery  was 
placed  and  from  which  the  men  were  repeatedly  driven,  with 
great  slaughter.  Finding  no  great  effect  from  the  fire  of  the 
troops,  and  confusion  beginning  to  spread  from  the  great  num- 
ber of  men  who  were  falling  in  all  quarters,  St.  Clair  resolved 
to  see  what  could  be  done  with  the  bayonet.  Lieut.-Col.  Drake 
was  accordingly  ordered  to  make  a  charge  with  a  part  of  the 
second  line  and  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy.  This  was 
executed  with  great  spirit.  The  Indians  instantly  gave  way 
and  were*  driven  back  three  or  four  liundred  yards;  but  for 


r^f^'l'ifWHWII 


OR,   TIIK    IU)UI)KK    WARS   OF   TWO    0KNTIIKIK8. 


221 


want  of  a  snfflcient  number  of  riflemen  to  pursne  this  advan- 
tajfc,  they  soon  returned,  and  the  troops  were  obliged  to  fall 
back  in  their  turn.  At  this  moment  they  had  entered  the 
camp  by  the  left  flank,  having  pushed  back  the  troops  that 
wore  posted  there.  Another  charge  was  made  here  by  the  sec- 
ond regiment,  Butler's  and  Clark's  battalions,  with  equal  effect, 
and  it  was  repeated  several  times  and  always  with  success;  but 
in  uU  of  them  many  men  were  lost,  and  particularly  the  ofiicers, 
ft  I088  altogether  irreparable.  In  the  last  charge  Major  Butler 
was  dangerously  wounded,  and  every  officer  of  the  second  regi- 
ment fell  except  three,  one  of  whom,  Mr.  Greaton,  was  shot 
tlirougii  the  body. 

The  artillery  being  now  silenced  and  all  the  officers  killed, 
except  Capt.  Ford,  who  was  very  badly  wounded,  and  more 
than  half  of  the  army  fallen,  being  cut  oft'  from  the  road,  it 
became  necessary  to  attempt  the  regaining  of  it  and  to  make  a 
retreat,  if  possible.  To  this  purpose  the  remains  of  the  army 
were  formed  as  well  as  circumstances  would  admit  towards  the 
riglit  of  the  encampment,  from  which,  by  the  way  of  the  sec- 
ond lino,  another  charge  was  made  upon  the  enemy,  as  if  with 
the  design  to  turn  their  riglit  flank,  but  in  fact  to  gain  the  road. 
Tills  was  effected,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  open,  the  militia  took 
along  it,  followed  by  the  troops,  Major  Clark,  with  his  bat- 
talion, covering  the  rear.* 

The  retreat,  in  those  circumstances,  was,  as  may  be  imagined, 
a  very  precipitate  one.  It  was,  in  fact,  a  flight.  The  camp  and 
the  artillery  were  abandoned ;  but  that  was  unavoidable,  for 
not  a  horse  was  left  alive  to  have  "drawn  it  off,  had  it  other- 
wise been  practicable.  But  the  most  disgraceful  part  of  the 
business  is,  that  the  greatest  part  of  the  men  threw  away  their 
arms  and  accoutrements,  even  after  the  pursuit,  which  con- 
tinued about  four  miles,  had  ceased.  St.  Clair  found  the  road 
strewed  with  them  for  many  miles,  but  was  not  able  to  remedy 
it,  for  having  had  all  his  horses  killed,  and  being  mounted 
upon  one  that  could  not  be  pricked  out  of  a  walk,  he  could 
not  get  forward  himself,  and  the  orders  he  sent  forward  either 
to  halt  the  front,  or  to  prevent  the  men  from  parting  with 

*  St.  Cluir'B  report. 


222 


TIIK    I.IVKS  OF    I'ONTIAC    AND  TWM'MSRIi: 


tlieir  arms,  were  lumttoiKkHl  to.  The  flifrht  eontiniUHl  to  Fort 
JeftbrHon,  twenty-nine  miles,  wliieli  was  reiu-Iicd  a  little  after 
sunset.  The  action  be^an  about  halt'  an  liour  before  sunrisi;, 
and  the  retreat  was  attempted  at  half  an  hour  after  nine  o'clock. 
Mnj.  (len.  IJutler,  TJeut.  (>ol.  Oldham,  of  the  militia,  Miijur 
Ferpjuson,  Major  Hart  and  Major  (Mark  wore  among  the  killed. 

8t.  Clair,  in  giving  the  iletails  of  this  disaster,  closes  with 
these  remarks:  "  I  have  nothing  to  lay  to  the  cbarge  of  the 
troops  but  their  want  of  discipline,  which,  for  the  sliort  time 
they  had  been  in  the  service,  it  was  impossible  they  should 
have  acquired."  He  continues:  "We  were  overpowered  bv 
numbers;  but  it  is  no  more  than  justice  to  observe  that,  tlioujjrh 
composed  of  so  many  different  species  of  troo])8,  the  utmost 
harmony  ])revailefl  during  the  campaign." 

In  addition  to  the  above  brief  account  of  St.  Clair's  defeat, 
I  give  the  following  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Van  Cleve,  who  was 
in  the  Quartermaster  General's  service  on  the  occasion  and 
witnessed  the  disaster: 


'      I 


m 


We  were  encamped  just  within  tlic  lines,  on  tlie  riglit.  The  attacli  was 
made  on  tlie  Kentucky  militia.  Almost  instantaneous''  the  small  rem- 
nant of  them  that  escaped  broke  through  the  line  near  us,  and  this  line 
gave  way.  Followed  by  a  tremendous  fire  from  the  enemy,  they  passed 
me.  I  threw  my  bridle  over  a  stump,  from  which  a  tent  pole  had  been 
cut,  and  followed  a  short  distance,  when  tinding  the  troops  had  halted,  I 
returned  and  brouglit  my  horse  a  little  farther.  I  was  now  between  tlie 
flres,  and  finding  the  troops  giving  way  again,  was  obliged  to  leave  him  a 
second  time.  As  I  quitted  him  he  was  shot  down,  and  I  felt  rather  glud 
of  it,  as  I  concluded  that  now  I  should  be  at  liberty  to  share  in  the  engiiire- 
mcnt.  My  inexperience  promptotl  me  to  calculate  on  our  forces  being  far 
superior  to  .iny  that  the  savages  could  assemble,  and  that  we  should  soon 
have  the  pleasure  of  driving  them.  Not  more  than  five  minutes  had  yet 
elapsed,  when  a  soldier  near  me  bad  his  arm  swinging  with  a  w(;und.  I 
requested  his  arms  and  accoutrements,  as  he  was  unable  to  use  them,  pro- 
mising to  return  thera  to  him,  and  commenced  firing.  The  smoke  was 
settled  down  to  about  within  three  feet  of  the  ground,  but  I  generally  put 
one  knee  on  the  ground,  and  with  a  rest  from  behind  a  tree,  waited  the 
appearance  of  an  Indian's  head  from  behind  his  cover,  or  for  one  to  run 
and  change  his  position.  Before  I  was  convinced  of  my  mistaken  calcula- 
tion, the  battle  was  half  over  and  I  had  become  familiarized  to  the 
scene.  Hearing  the  firing  at  one  time  unusually  brisk  near  the  rear  of 
the  left  wing,  I  crossed  the  encampmt>nt.  Two  levy  oflSccrs  were  just 
ordering  a  charge.    I  had  fired  away  my  ammunition  and  some  of  the 


0|{,    TIIK    I1<»KI)|;K    WARfi   t>F    TWO    CKNTrUIfX 


223 


l)iimls  of  my  muskcl  luKlflown  (ttV.  I  pickod  up  iiiiotlicr  mid  ii  ciutridjjo 
hox  nearly  full,  iind  puslicd  t'orwurd  wllli  iiboiil  thirty  others.  Th«  In 
iliiiiis  ran  to  the  riylit,  where  tlien-  was  a  small  ravine  tilled  with  lojfs.  I 
hciit  iiiy  eoMrne  utter  them,  and  on  looking;  round  I  lounil  I  whh  with  only 
,iv(ii  i>r  ciiilit  men,  tlie  others  havinij  kept  slraijjjht  forward  iind  halted 
iil)(»ut  thirty  yards  ofl".  We  halted  also,  and  beinjj  8o  near  where  the 
^tivaijes  lay  ('oM«'ealed,  the  second  tire  from  them  left  me  standing  alone. 
Mycitvcr  was  a  small  suj?ar  trt^e  or  heeeh,  scarcely  large  enough  to  hide 
MIC.  1  tired  away  all  my  ammunition;  I  am  uncertain  whether  with  any 
rllcci  iir  not.  I  then  looked  for  the  party  near  me,  and  saw  them  retreat- 
iiiLT  iiiiii  iialf  way  i)aek  to  the  lines.  I  followed  them,  running  my  best, 
and  was  soon  in.  By  this  time  our  artillery  had  been  taken,  I  do  not 
know  wliether  the  tlrst  or  second  time,  and  our  troops  had  just  retaken  it 
and  were  charging  the  enemy  across  the  creek  in  front,  and  some  person 
tiild  me  to  look  at  an  Indian  running  with  one  of  our  kegs  of  powder,  but 
!  did  not  .see  liim.  Tlierawere  about  thirty  of  our  men  and  ofllcers  lying 
scalpi  tl  around  the  i)ieces  of  artillery.  It  api)eared  that  the  Indians  had 
not  been  in  a  hurry,  for  their  hair  was  all  skinned  ott'. 

Daniel  Honliam,  a  young  man  raised  by  my  uncle  and  brought  up  with 
nic,  ami  wiiom  I  regarded  as  a  brother,  had  by  this  Mme  received  a  shot 
through  his  hips  and  was  unable  "to  walk.  I  procured  a  horse  and  got  him 
on.  My  uncle  had  received  a  ball  near  his  wrist  that  lodged  near  hia 
(U)()\\.  The  ground  was  literally  covered  with  dead  and  dying  men,  the 
coniniander  gave  orders  to  take  the  way  —  perhaps  they  had  been  given 
mure  explicitly.  Happening  to  see  my  uncle,  he  told  nie  that  a  retreat 
had  been  ordered,  and  that  I  nmst  do  the  best  I  could  and  take  care  o{ 
myself  Honham  insisted  that  he  had  a  better  chance  of  escaping  than  I 
iiad,  and  urged  me  to  look  to  my  own  safety  alone.  I  found  the  troops 
pi't.><sing  like  a  drove  of  bullocks  to  the  right.  I  saw  an  offlccr  whom  I 
toiik  to  be  Lieut.  .Morgan,  an  aid  to  Gen.  Butler,  with  six  or  eight  men, 
start  on  a  run  a  little  to  the  left  of  where  I  was.  I  immediately  ran  and 
fell  in  witli  them.  In  a  short  distance  we  were  so  suddenly  among  the 
Indians,  who  were  not  apprised  of  our  object,  that  they  opened  to  us,  and 
ran  to  the  right  and  left  without  firing.  I  think  about  two  hundred  of  our 
men  passed  through  them  before  they  fired,  except  a  cltMice  shot.  When 
we  had  proceeded  abont  two  miles,  most  of  those  mounted  had  passed 
me.  A  boy  had  been  thrown  or  fell  oft'  a  horse,  and  begged  iry  assistance. 
I  ran,  pulled  him  along  about  two  miles  further,  until  I  Imd  become 
nearly  exhausted.  Of  the  last  two  horses  In  the  rear,  one  carried  two  men 
and  the  other  three.  I  made  an  exertion  and  threw  him  on  behind  the 
two  men.  The  Indians  followed  but  about  half  a  mile  further.  The  boy 
was  thrown  otf  some  time  after,  but  escaped  and  got  in  safely.  My  friend 
Honham  1  did  not  see  on  the  retreat,  but  understood  he  was  thrown  off 
about  this  place,  and  lay  on  the  left  of  the  trace,  where  he  was  found  In 
the  winter  and  was  buried.  I  took  the  cramp  violently  in  my  thighs  and 
eouUI  scarcely  walk  until  I  got  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  rear,  where 
the  Indians  were  tomahawking  the  old  and  wounded  men;  and  I  stopped 


224 


rilK    l.WKi*    OK    IHJNTIAC    AND    TKCI'MHKIi: 


here  to  tit-  my  pockot  Imudkercljiof  round  a  M'oundi'd  miin's  knoo.  1  siiw 
tlio  Indianti  close  in  purnuit  atthiH  tiiuc,  and  lor  a  moment  my  Hpirit  sunk 
and  1  folt  In  dcspnir  for  my  safety.  I  considered  wlictlior  I  sliouid  kuvc 
tlu)  road  or  wlietlior  I  was  capable  of  any  ftirther  exertion.  If  I  left  the 
road,  the  Indians  were  in  plain  slglit  and  could  easily  overtake  me.  I 
threw  the  shoes  otT  my  feet,  and  the  coolness  of  the  jrround  scenicid  to 
revive  me.  I  a^Hin  bef^an  a  trot  and  recollect  that  when  a  bend  in  the 
road  otfered,  and  I  jjot  before  half  a  dozen  persons,  I  thought  it  would 
occupy  some  time  for  the  enemy  to  massacre  them,  before  my  turn  would 
come.  By  the  time  I  liad  got  to  Stillwater,  about  eleven  miles,  I  jmd 
gained  the  centre  of  the  tlying  troops,  and,  like  them,  came  to  a  walk,  I 
fell  in  with  Lieut.  Shaumburg,  who,  I  think,  was  the  only  officer  of  anil- 
lery  that  got  away  unhurt,  with  Corporal  Mott,  and  a  woman  who  was 
called  red-headed  Nance.  The  latter  two  were  both  crying.  Mott  was 
lamenting  the  loss  of  a  wife  and  Nance  that  of  an  infant  child.  Shaum- 
burg  was  nearly  exhausted  and  hung  on  Mott's  arm,  I  carried  IiIh  fusil 
and  accoutrements  and  led  Nance;  and  in  tills  sociable  way  we  arrived  at 
Fort  Jefferson  a  little  after  sunset. 

.  The  Commander-in-Chief  had  .ordered  Col.  Darke  to  press  forward  to 
tlio  convoys  of  provisions  and  hurry  them  on  to  the  army.  Major  Truman, 
Capt.  Sedan  and  my  uncle  were  setting  forward  with  him.  A  number  of 
soldiers  and  pack-horsemen  on  foot  and  myself  among  them,  joined  them. 
We  came  on  a  few  miles,  when  all,  overcome  with  t'atigue,  agreed  to  halt. 
Darius  Curtius  Orcott,  a  pack-horse  ma,ster,  had  stolen  at  Jefferson  nni' 
pocket  full  of  Hour  and  the  other  full  «)f  beef.  One  of  the  men  had  a 
kettle,  and  one  Jacob  Fowler  and  my,self  groped  about  in  the  dark  until 
we  found  some  water,  where  a  tree  had  been  blown  out  of  root.  We  made 
ft  kettle  of  soup,  of  which  I  got  a  small  portion  among  the  many.  It  was 
then  concluded,  as  there  was  a  bend  in  the  road  a  few  miles  further  on, 
that  the  Indians  might  undertake  to  intercept  us  there,  and  we  decamped 
and  traveled  about  four  or  five  miles  further.  I  had  got  a  rifle  and  am- 
munition at  Jefferson  from  a  wounded  militia  man,  an  old  acquaintance, 
to  bring  in.  A  sentinel  was  set  and  we  lay  down  and  slept,  until  the  Gov. 
ernor  came  up  a  few  hours  afterward.  I  think  I  never  slept  so  profoundly. 
I  could  hardly  get  awake  after  I  was  on  my  feet.  On  the  day  before  the 
defeat  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow.  The  flats  were  now  filled  with 
water  frozen  over,  the  ice  as  thick  as  a  knife  blade.  I  was  worn  out  with 
fatigue,  with  my  feet  knocked  to  pieces  against  the  roots  in  the  night  and 
splashing  through  the  ice  without  shoes.  In  the  morning  we  got  to  a 
camp  of  pack-horsemen,  and  amongst  them  I  got  a  doughboj'  or  water- 
dumpling,  and  proceeded.  We  got  within  seven  miles  of  Hamilton  on 
this  day  and  arrived  there  soon  on  the  morning  of  the  sixth. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 


Resui.i's  0'   St.  CiiAm'8   Defeat  — Thk    Ameuicanb,   the    Enoush, 

AND    THE    IM)IANH— HuANT    InVITED    TO   PHILADELPHIA  —  IIoUUIKY- 

iNG  Scenes  on  8t.  (/'laiu's  Battle  Field— The  Peace  Makkub— 
Their  Instkuctidns- Americans  desire  Peace— The  Imidans 
Fou  Wak. 

Thus  was  the  plan  of  establishing  a  chain  of  forts  between 
Cincinnati  and  the  Miami  villages  overthrown  by  the  defeat 
of  St.  Clair.  The  savages  again  victorious,  could  neither  be 
expected  to  make  terms  or  show  mercy,  and  along  the  line  of 
tiie  whole  frontier  the  settlers  were  filled  with  anxiety,  terror, 
and  despair.  Out  of  St.  Clair's  army  of  fourteen  hundred  men, 
eight  hundred  and  ninety  were  killed  and  wounded.  The 
battle  took  place  on  the  fourth  of  November,  1791,  and  on  the 
eighth  of  the  same  month  the  remains  of  the  army  reached 
Fort  Washington.  The  news  of  the  defeat  was  at  once  com- 
municated to  Congress,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  December 
Gen.  Knox  laid  before  the  President  a  plan  for  future  opera- 
tions. It  provided  for  raising  and  equipping  a  large  force, 
and  the  immediate  invasion  of  the  Indian  countrv,  but  Wash- 
ingtou  desired  that  before  this  army  was  organized  every  effort 
should  again  be  made  to  prevent  bloodshed.  Col.  Pickering, 
in  his  meeting  with  the  Iroquois,  of  June  and  July,  1791,  at 
the  Painted  Post,  had,  among  other  things,  proposed  that 
certain  chiefs  should,  in  the  following  January,  go  to  Philadel- 
phia, while  Congress  was  in  session,  and  "shake  hands  with 
their  newly  adopted  father."  The  importance  of  tht;  proposed 
visit  became  more  evident  after  the  news  of  St.  Clair's  defeat, 
for  now,  the  New  York  Indians  were  suspected.  On  the  twen- 
tieth of  December,  1791,  Gen.  Knox  wrote  to  a  missionary 
among  the  Iroqiiois,  pressing  through  him  the  invitation  given 
15  (235) 


220 


TIIK    MVKH   (»K    IHtNTIAO    AND   TK(1(IMt*KII : 


by  the  conmnHHiinuir,  and  tispt'cially  »ir|ijln^  tho  jiroHfiuu  of 
Brant.  To  aid  the  propost'd  peace  measures,  u  reHpei'tful  and 
kind  message  was  sent  to  theSenecas  on  the  seventh  ot'.fanuiiry, 
1792;  while,  to  guard  against  surprise,  means  wore  adopted  to 
learn  tlie  purpose  of  a  great  couneil  called  at  Ihitralo  ( Iruek, 
and  also  to  ascertain  tlie  intentions  of  the  trii)es  on  the  Wahash 
and  Miami.  AVhile  these  events  were  taking  place  in  the 
north,  Wilkinson,  commanding  at  ( 'incinnati,  was  instructed 
to  send  word  to  Major  liamtraiuck,  at  Vincennes,  that  the  Gov- 
ernment wished  to  secure  the  agency  of  tlie  French  colonists 
and  friendly  Indians  in  quelling  the  war  spirit.  In  Fobruiirv, 
also,  further  friendly  messages  were  sent  to  the  Senecas,  und 
an  invitation  forwarded  to  Brant  from  the  Secretary  of  War 
liimself  asking  him  to  come  to  Philadelphia. 

In  March  fifty  Iroquois  chiefs  reached  the  Quaker  city  and 
met  in  council  with  the  Americans,  expressing  friendly  senti- 
ments, and  during  April  and  May  (Japt.  Trueman  and  others 
were  sent  from  the  Ohio  to  the  hostile  tribes,  bearing  messa/^es 
of  friendship.  But  before  relating  the  unfortunate  issue  of 
Trueman 's  expedition,  I  will  notice  the  movements  made  by 
Congress  in  reference  to  military  preparations,  which  were  to 
be  carried  out  in  case  the  peace  measures  should  fail. 

St.  Clair  resigned  his  position  as  commander  of  tbe  North- 
western forces  and  Gen.  Wayne  was  appointed  in  his  place,  and 
in  Jnne,  1792,  the  latter  movwl  westward  to  Pittsburgli,  and 
proceeded  to  organize  the  army  which  "was  to  be  the  ultimate 
argument  of  the  American  with  the  Indian  confederation." 

Through  the  summer  of  1702,  the  preparation  of  the  soldiere 
was  steadily  attended  to;  "train  and  discipline  them  for  the 
service  they  are  meant  for,"  said  Washington,  "and  do  not 
spare  })ovvder  and  lead,  so  the  men  be  made  marksmen."  In 
December,  1792,  the  forces  now  recruited  and  trained,  were 
gathered  at  a  point  about  twenty-two  miles  below  Pitts- 
burgh, on  the  Ohio,  called  Lcgionville;  the  army  itself  having 
been  denominated  the  Legion  of  the  United  States,  divided 
into  four  sub  legions,  and  provided  with  legionary  and  sub- 
legionary  officers.  Meantime,  at  Fort  Washington,  Wilkinson 
had  succeeded  St.  Clair  as  commandaut,  and  in  January  had 


OK,    THE    BORDER    WARM   OK   TWO   CKNTUKIK8. 


237 


ordered  an  expedition  to  exntnine  the  field  of  the  late  diSiiBtrous 
conrtict. 

TliiH  expedition  readied  the  site  of  St.  (-lair's  disastrons 
battle  on  the  first  of  February,  and  found  one  of  the  mosb 
horrifying  spectacles  ever  presented  to  human  eyes.  It  waa 
evident,  from  what  was  found  tliere,  that  the  unfortunate 
soldiers  in  St.  Clair's  army  who  fell  into  the  enemy's  hiinds 
with  life  received  the  greatest  torture — having  their  limbs  torn 
off.  The  women  were  treated  with  the  most  indecent  cruelty, 
having  stakes  as  thick  as  a  person's  arm  driven  through  their 
bodies. 

But  while  Wayne's  army  were  gathering  and  target-shooting 
near  Pittsburgh,  the  peace  measures  of  the  United  States  were 
pressed  with  great  effort.  In  the  first  place,  the  Iroquois, 
throuf^h  their  chiefs  who  visited  Philadelphia,  were  induced  to 
act  as  peace-makers  between  the  Americans  and  the  hostile 
Indians;  and,  as  we  have  seen,  Trueman  received  instructions 
to  repair  to  the  Miami  villages  with  friendly  words.  Follow- 
ing is  the  speech  with  which  he  was  charged,  and  which  ho 
delivered  to  these  hostile  tribes  : 


Brothers :  The  President  of  the  United  States  entertains  the  opinion 
that  the  war  \f  hicli  exists  iH  founded  in  error  and  mistaico  on  your  part. 
That  you  believe  tlie  United  States  want  to  deprive  you  of  your  lands,  and 
drive  you  out  of  tlic  country.  Be  assured  this  is  not  so:  on  the  contrary, 
that  we  should  bo  greatly  gratified  with  the  opportunity  of  imparting  to 
you  ail  the  blessings  of  civilized  life;  of  teaching  you  to  cultivate  tho 
earth,  and  raise  corn;  to  raise  oxen,  sheep,  and  otiicr  domestic  animals; 
to  build  comfortable  houses,  and  to  educate  your  children,  so  as  over  to 
dwell  upon  the  land.' 

Brotlicrs :  The  President  of  the  United  States  requests  you  to  take  this 
subject  into  your  serious  consideration,  and  to  reflect  how  abundantly 
more  it  will  be  for  your  interest  to  be  at  peace  with  tho  United  States,  and 
to  receive  all  the  benefit  thereof,  than  to  continue  a  war  wliich,  however 
flattering  it  may  be  to  you  for  a  moment,  must,  in  the  end,  prove  ruinous. 

This  desire  of  peace  has  not  arisen  in  consequence  of  the  late  defeat  of 
the  troops  under  Major  General  St.  Clair;  because,  in  the  beginning  of  tho 
last  year  a  similar  message  was  sent  you  by  Col.  Proctor,  but  who  was 
prevented  from  reaching  you  by  some  insurmountable  difiiculties.  All 
the  Senecas  at  Buffalo  Creek  can  witness  for  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  as 
he  held,  during  the  month  of  April  last,  long  conferences  with  them,  to 
devise  the  means  of  getting  to  you  in  safety. 


228 


TIIK   UVhH  OF   PONTIAO   AND  TKOtrMHKIi: 


War,  Kt  all  tlincH,  Im  u  tirciult'ul  ovil  to  tlioHi>  who  aro  cnKUgtuI  llu-r.'iu, 
and  inoro  particularly  ho  wIxtu  a  I'uw  pvoplu  (!UKaK«  to  u^t  agaitiMtHo  ^runt 
nuinbiTH  as  thv  pcoplu  of  tho  IJnittul  StatvH. 

BrothcrH:  Do  not  Hud'cr  tliu  advantaffuH  yuu  have  ftainml  to  iuIhIi>u(1 
your  Judxraent,  and  to  inlluence  you  tocontinuo  tho  war;  but  rctloct  upon 
thv  deHtructivo  conscquunccH  which  muMt  attend  such  a  mcuHunt. 

TIk'  PrvMidunt  of  tho  United  States  is  hij^hly  dcslrouH  of  Heuing  a  number 
of  your  principal  chiefs,  and  convincing  you,  in  person,  how  much  he 
wishes  to  avoid  the  evils  of  war  for  your  sake,  and  tiio  salto  of  humanity. 
Consult,  therefore,  rpon  the  great  object  of  peace;  call  in  your  partlci, 
and  enjoin  a  cessation  of  all  other  depredations;  and  as  many  of  the 
principal  chiefs  as  shall  choose,  repair  to  Pliiladelphia,  tho  seat  of  tlie 
general  government,  and  there  make  a  peace,  founded  upon  tho  principlci 
of  Justice  and  humanity.  Uomember  that  no  additional  lands  will  be 
required  of  you,  or  any  other  tribe,  to  tlioso  that  have  been  ceded  by 
former  treaties,  particularly  by  tho  tribes  who  hud  a  right  to  make  the 
treaty  of  Muskingum  in  the  year  17H9. 

But  If  any  of  your  tribes  can  prove  that  you  have  a  fair  right  to  iiny 
lands  comprehended  by  the  said  treaty,  and  have  not  been  conipenHiited 
therefor,  you  shall  receive  full  satisfaction  upon  that  head.  The  chiefs 
you  send  shall  bo  safely  escorted  to  this  city,  and  shall  be  well  fed  and 
provided  with  all  things  for  their  Journey,  and  the  faith  of  tlic  United 
States  is  hereby  pledged  to  you  for  the  true  and  liberal  performunce  of 
every  thing  herein  contained  and  suggested,  and  all  this  is  coudrmed  iu 
your  manner  by  the  great  white  belt  hereunto  attaclied. 

But  this  was  not  all.  The  Americans  were  sincere  in  their 
desires  to  conclude  a  permanent  peace  with  the  native  tribes, 
and,  therefore,  Captain  Hendrick,  chief  of  the  Stockhridge 
Indians,  was  dispatched  on  the  eighth  of  May,  to  present  the 
views  of  the  President  to  the  approaching  council  of  tiie 
Northwestern  Confederacy.  General  Rufus  Putmaa  was  also 
instructed  to  go  into  the  Indian  ccjuntry,  in  company  with 
John  Heckewelder,  and  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  secure  peace 
and  a  permanent  treaty.  Following  are  a  few  extracts  from 
the  information  and  orders  which  he  received,  which,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  speech  of  Col.  Trueman,  go  very  far  to  prove  that 
Washington  was  disposed  to  treat  with  the  savages  on  a  liberal 
basis: 


The  chiefs  of  tlie  Five  Nations  of  Indians,  wlio  were  so  long  in  this  city, 
lately,  were  astonished  at  the  moderation  of  our  claim  of  laud,  it  being 
very  different  from  what  they  had  been  taught,  by  designing  people,  to 
believe. 


OR,   TIIK    noRDKR   WARH  OF  TWO  (TKNTUIII K8. 


229 


in  their 
;e  tril)e8, 
kbritlge 
aeiit  tl\e 
of  the 
was  also 
ny  with 
re  peace 
cts  from 
in  addi- 
rove  that 
a  liberal 


this  city, 

d,  it  being 

people,  to 


It  would  Hvt'ux  thut  thft  IndiiiiH  hnvn  been  mUIfd  wltii  respect  to  our 
claimH,  liy  n  cvrUln  iiiiip,  piibllHhed  In  Connecticut,  wh<>reln  iiro  laid  out 
•en  nt'w  Htnti'H,  iiKreeubly  to  ii  report  of  a  committee  of  ConKrosii. 

Tlic  Tnlted  Htiiti'H  itre  deHlroUH,  in  any  treaty  wlilcli  hIiuII  bo  formed  In 
future,  to  avoid  all  cauHeH  of  war,  relative  to  boundaries,  by  fixing  thoHame 
in  Miv\\  a  manner  aH  not  to  be  mistaken  by  the  meanent  capai^ity,  Aa  tlio 
ImsJH,  tlx'refore,  of  your  negotiation,  you  will,  In  the  stron^eHt  and  moHt 
rx|)!ii'lt  terms,  renounce,  on  the  part  of  the  United  Htates,  all  claim  to  any 
Indian  land  which  hIuiU  not  have  been  ceded  by  fair  [treaties,  made  with 
the  Inilian  nations. 

Yi)U  may  Hay — that  we  conceive  the  treaty  of  Fort  Ilarmar  to  have  been 
formed  by  the  trlbett  having  a  Just  right  to  make  tlo-  same,  and  that  it  wai 
ilonc  witli  their  full  understanding  and  free  consent. 

That  if,  however,  the  said  tribes  should  Judge  the  compensation  to  have 
been  inadequate  to  tlie  object,  or  that  any  other  tribes  have  a  Ju8t  claim, 
in  l)i)tii  cases  tliey  shall  receive  a  liberal  allowance,  on  their  Anally  settling 
all  disputes  upon  the  subject. 

.Vs  till-  L'nit((d  8tat(!8  never  made  any  treaties  with  the  Wabash  Indiana, 
;illli(Uigh  the  said  Indians  have  been  repeatedly  Invited  thereto,  tliclr 
I  iiiiins  to  the  lands  eabt  and  south  of  the  iiald  Wubash  havo  not  booo 
(Inflncd. 

Tliis  circumstance  will  be  a  subject  of  your  inquiry  with  the  assembled 
Indian  tril)es:  and  you  may  assure  the  parties  concerned,  that  an  cqulto- 
hie  boundary  shall  be  arranged  with  them. 

Yon  will  makt!  U  clearly  understood,  that  wo  want  not  a  foot  of  their 
land,  and  that  it  is  theirs,  and  tlieirs  only;  that  they  havo  tho  right  to  sell, 
tmd  the  right  to  revise  to  sell,  and  the  United  States  will  guarantee  to  chom 
tiic  said  Just  right. 

That  it  is  not  only  the  sincere  desire  of  the  United  States  to  be  at  peace 
witli  all  tlie  neiglil)orlng  Indian  tribes,  but  to  protect  lliem  in  their  Just 
rlglits,  against  lawless,  violent  white  people.  If  such  sliould  commit  any 
injury  on  the  person  or  property  of  a  peaceable  Indian,  they  will  be 
regarded  equally  as  the  enemies  of  the  general  government  as  the  Indians, 
and  will  be  punished  accordingly. 

Your  first  great  object,  upon  meeting  the  Indians,  will  bo  to  convince 
them  that  the  United  States  require  none  of  their  lands. 

Tlic  second,  that  wo  shall  guaranty  all  that  remain,  and  take  tho  Indians 
under  our  protection. 

Tliirdly;  they  must  agree  to  the  truce,  and  immediately  to  call  in  all 
tlioir  war  parties.  It  will  be  in  vain  to  be  negotiating  with  them  while 
tiiey  sliall  be  murdering  the  frontier  citizens. 

Having  happily  effected  a  truce,  founded  on  the  above  assurances,  it  will 
tlicn  be  your  primary  endeavor  to  obtain  from  each  of  the  hostile  and 
nelgliboring  tribes  two  of  the  most  respectable  chiefs,  to  repair  to  the  seat 
of  government,  and  there  conclude  a  treaty  witli  the  President  of  tho 
Cnited  States,  in  which  all  causes  of  difference  should  bo  buried  forever. 

You  will  give  the  chiefs  every  assurance  of  personal  protection,  while 


S80 


TIIK   LIVKlt  Ur    fUNTlAO    AND  TKHUMBBIi: 


on  their  Journey  to  IMiilaclitlpliU,  iind,  Mhoiild  they  iitMUt  upon  It,  h(wtiiir«t 
of  oftlccrN  for  tlie  null' n'turn  of  tlui  ohIctM,  mid,  In  ciih**  dI  tlii'lr  coinpll 
•ncc,  you  will  take  vwry  precnutlon  by  tlxttroopii  tor  t\u<  protection  of  the 
■aid  chieri,  wliich  the  niituru  of  tlio  caar  may  require. 

But  If,  nner  liiiTlnK  uiiud  your  utiuoitt  exertionM,  tht^  cIiU'Ih  should  di<clloe 
tbo  Journey  to  PlillitdvlplitA,  then  you  will  agree  with  them  on  u  plan  for 
•  general  treaty,* 

As  alrondy  muntioiiod,  Draiit,  tho  Mohawk  chiot'tain,  had 
been  rcqucstud  to  vittit  Philadelphia  and  hold  aconturencu  vtith 
Washington.  Thu  £ngliHh,  on  hearing  this,  did  all  in  tli(>ir 
power  to  prevent  him  from  comi)lying  with  the  recjuest.  Hut 
this  independent  chief  would  not  listen  to  their  representutioMB, 
and  on  tho  twentieth  of  June  appeared  at  the  Federal  (Capital. 
Ho  remained  there  ten  or  twelve  days,  and  was  treated  hy  all 
with  marked  attention.  Great  painn  were  taken  to  give  him 
a  correct  understanding  of  affairs,  but  he  loft  ilie  American 
Capital  still  an  Englishman  at  heart. 

Notwithstanding  tlie  liberal  terms  offered,  and  that  diff«^rent 
peace-makers  were  sent  into  the  Indian  country,  all  propimi- 
tions  for  peace  were  rejected  in  one  form  or  another.  The 
recent  victories  which  the  savages  had  gained,  and  the  favora- 
ble representations  of  English  agents,  closed  the  ears  of  the 
red  men,  and,  no  doubt,  led  them  to  murder  the  peace  deputies 
whose  fate  I  now  proceed  to  record. 

*  American  State  Papers,  v.  334,  'i36. 


CIIAPTEU    XXVIll. 


Kate  or  the  Pka<;k>Makkiih  — Ohkat  OotiNciL  ur  tiik  Maiimkk-- 
IMiopoHirioNB  OK  Pkack  Uk.ik(;tki)  hy  tiik  Indianh-- Waykr 
Maiuhkh  into  tiik  Indian  Coiintiiy  — Tiik  Skiiua  on  St.  Ci.AiK't 

liATTLKKIKLU— FOUT    UkcOVKHT    KhTAUMBIIRD. 

Tiik  vkvk  of  thoHO  who  were  sent  out  to  induce  the  Iiuliuns 
to  iiieftHurcs  of  peace,  may  be  imagined.  Freeman,  who  lett 
I'oi't  Wuahingtoii  on  the  Mcventh  of  April;  Trueman,  who  left 
on  the  twenty-BCcond  of  May,  for  tlie  Maumee,  and  Col.  llar- 
fliii,  who,  on  the  same  day,  wtarted  for  Sandusky,  were  all 
murdered.  Hrant  did  not  attend  the  Western  Council,  although 
\w  lirtd  agreed  to  in  Philadelphia.  Hendricks  gave  hin  message 
into  the  hands  of  ('ol.  Mtilvee,  and  kept  away  from  the  gath- 
ering of  the  confederated  nations,  and  of  the  three  messengers, 
Trueman,  Hendricks  and  Putnam,  Putnam  alone  reached  his 
destination.  He  formed  a  treaty  with  several  of  the  Wabash 
tril)es,  but,  as  jt  was  not  ratified  by  Congress,  it  proved  of  no 
avail. 

Indian  councils  were  now  in  order — councils  where  Indians 
met  Indians,  and  where  no  white  man  intruded  himself. 
Probably  the  largest  Indian  council  ever  held  was  at  the  mouth 
of  the  River  Auglaize,  in  175)2.  It  was  assembled  through 
the  influence  of  the  Iroquois,  but  did  not  accomplish  the  de- 
sired result.  Besides,  the  New  York,  Western  and  Canadian 
Indians,  there  were  present  twenty-seven  other  nations.  At 
this  council  the  boundary  line  between  the  Americans  and 
Indians  was  fully  discussed,  and  all  agreed  that  it  must  not 
extend  north  of  the  Ohio,  However,  nothing  was  fully  resolved, 
the  council  agreeing  to  assemble  again  in  the  following  spring. 
This  meeting  took  place,  and  both  the  Americans  and  the 
Indians  were  fully  represented.    The  United  States  Commis- 

(231) 


^M 


TIIK    ll>M   «)K    l'«>N'liAr    ANI>   TMIMHIi:!!: 


Mioiii'rH  luitl  Wct'iiri'  tlit>  rtuvu^'M  ii  pliiii  tor  tli<>  Mi>ttliMiif'iit  of  r|| 
•  iilHciilticK,  liiit  it  pi-uviMl  iliMHitiHt'uctory.  The  H|)r<rli  wliirh 
wiiH  Hul)hiitt<-«l  l>,v  till*  (.'oiiti'diMutctl  iNutioiiri  in  rfplv  to  tin- 
(*t>tiitni(((tioi)orH,  uml  wliicli  put  tin  uikI  to  all  n(*p>tiutioiiit,  iuhI 
upctKHl  tlu*  way  tor  iiiiotlirr  Itloody  uoiitvHt,  in  ot'  hiioIi  irii|iiti-t- 
iui('t>  UK  to  merit  pri'hcrvutioii  in  tliiK  voluiiiu.  It  wum  in  tli(Mi> 
won  Ik: 


To  lh*<  t'onimuMi'oHi'r*  »f  thf  Unihd  Stattt. —  HrDtliiTM:  W«i  liiivi*  rpcfivril 
jroiir  Mpi'rrli,  iliiti'il  till-  llilrty  llmt  of  liut  inoiitli,  iiinl  It  liiu  \wv\\  IdUt- 
prrl('«l  to  itll  till'  illllVii'iit  iiiitliinH.  Wi>  liiivi>  Ih'i-d  Ioii^  In  mi'IuIIii^  ymi  nn 
HiiNWiT  Imthiimi'  of  till'  ^ri'itt  liii|iiirtaii('i'  ul  tin*  Niiliji'ct.  liut  w«'  nuw 
HiiHwrr  It  rtilly,  Imvlntr  kIvi'Ii  Itiill  tlu  conHliliTutlon  In  our  power. 

ItriiilicrM;  Villi  ti'll  iiM  tliut  itlliT  yon  liml  iiiiuli'  pt'un'  with  tlii>  Kiiii;.  mir 
I'litlH'r,  iili<>iit  ti'ii  yi'iirM  ii^o,  "It  ri'tnitlni'il  to  iiiiiki>  p<>u<'<'  liftwri'n  the 
Unltcil  Htiiti'it  iinil  till*  liiiliiiii  imtloriH  who  hiul  taken  piirt  with  the  Kinf{. 
For  (hU  piirpiiH*  iiiiiiiiiUMloiierN  w  -n'  iippointrd,  who  Hcnt  nicHMUKCH  to  til 
thoNi'  Itiilliiii  nutioiiy,  Inviting  tliriii  to  come  luid  make  peace,"  ami  ulW 
fpcltln^  the  ])er)o(lM  at  which  yon  Hay  treatlcH  were  lielil  at  Fort  Hiaiiwix, 
Fort  Mcintosh  and  Miami,  all  which  trcatlcH,  uccordlnK  to  your  own 
itckiiowlcilirinenl,  v\ei'e  for  the  hoIc  piirpime  of  iiuikin^  peace,  you  tlii-n 
tiiiy,  "  lirotlii'i's,  the  cotnnilNHlonerH  who  conducted  thcHc  treaticH  In  ln'liuif 
of  the  I'lilti'd  StatcM  sent  the  paperH  containinK  them  to  the  jreiieral 
council  III'  the  States,  who,  Hupposln);  them  Hatist'iuttory  to  the  nationi 
treated  with,  proceeded  to  dispoHe  of  the  landH  therohy  ceded." 

Brother^:  TIiIh  Ih  telling  »*  plainly  what  we  alwayM  umleratood  to  be 
the  cuNi'.  and  it  a;;reeH  with  the  ileclarationH  of  thimu  few  who  atti'iidi'd 
those  ireaiies,  vl/,. :  That  they  went  to  your  conuniHHioneiM  to  make  piiici'; 
but,  tUrou^h  fear,  were  ohll^e  to  *\nn  any  paper  that  waH  lalil  before  tlii'in, 
and  it  lias  .since  appeared  that  deedH  of  ccHHlon  were  idKiied  by  them,  in 
Hteiid  of  treatlcH  of  peace. 

Brothers:  You  then  say,  "after  some  time  It  appearH  that  n  number  of 
po(i|pl<'  in  your  nations  were  dissatisticd  with  tin-  treaties  of  Fort  Mcintosh 
and  Miami;  therefore,  the  council  of  the  I'nlted  HtatCH  appointed  Gov. 
Ht.  (lair  their  comniiHsiouer,  with  full  power,  for  the  purpose  of  removing 
all  caiLscH  of  controversy,  relating  to  trade,  and  settling  boundaries,  between 
the  Indian  nations  in  the  northern  ditpartment  and  the  Unlled  States.  He 
accordingly  sent  messages,  inviting  all  the  nations  concerned  to  meet  him 
at  tt  council  tlru  he  kindled  at  the  Falls  of  the  Muskingum.  While  hewa» 
waiting  for  them  some  mischief  happened  at  that  place  and  the  Arc  was 
put  out;  so  he  kindled  a  council  tire  at  Fort  Ilarmar,  where  near  six  hun- 
dred Indians  of  ditl'erenl  nations  attended.  The  Six  Nations  then  renewed 
and  confirmed  the  treaty  of  Fort  Htanwix,  and  the  Wyandots  and  Dela- 
wares  renewed  and  confirnu'd  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mcintosh;  some  Ottiiwag, 
Chippewas,  Pottuwutomies  and  Uacs  were  also  parties  to  the  treaty  of  Fort 


OK,   Tlir    ItoKDRK   WAKH   or  rWO  l*KNTI'RIWl. 


933 


||»rmiir."  Now,  l>ri>ili«<r»,  tlM<M<  ntv  your  wnnlM,  hiuI  It  U  ncci'MMiiry  for  u« 
III  inuki'  a  Mliort  rf|il>  lo  thi'iii. 

ItnillirrM:  A  p'liiriil  I'liuniil  of  nil  Ihi'  Indiitn  coril'i'iliTitcy  wim  iirlil,  nri 
yoii  Mi'll  know,  in  III)'  Ittll  of  tlii<  \fiir  ITmn,  ut  tliU  |iiui'«>,  iiml  Hint  )(i'»i'ritl 
I'ouni'il  wuH  Invih'il  liy  your  coiniiilKMloiiiT,  (iov.  Ht.  Clnlr,  to  iiii>«<l  liliii  for 
itii<  |iiir|>oN<>  III'  lioMInu  II  trciity,  with  ri'itunl  to  tlii>  IuiuIn  niriiiloniil 
hy  \oii  to  liitvi'  Ih'i'ii  nult'd  by  tin*  trfiilifM  ol'  Fort  Htuimlk  iiinl  Fort 
Mclnhmli, 

UnillnTx;  Wi'  i»n>  III  |m>nhi>mm|oii  «»f  tlin  «|M't'rlii'»t  iiml  li-llcrx  wlilrli  pitMiil 
nil  lliiil  ocfiiHioii  Ih-Iwi'i'Ii  tlioM<M|i>|niti>(l  liy  ilii'  coiirrili'mliil  liiiliiinN  mnl 
Uov.  Hi.  Cliilr,  tlut  noiiimlMMioni'r  of  tint  Uiiitrd  Sinti'M.  TIhmc  puimtn  prove 
timl  yoiir  xiilil  ronimNsloluT,  In  the  Ix'tflnnlnu  ol'  Mm-  ynir  nnil,  hihI  nrti-r 
liiivliiir  Ix'i'ii  liil'oriiifil  liy  tin'  Ki'inTikl  cotiiH-ll  of  ilic  prcci'illn^  full,  tltiit 
Oil  liiirjL'ikin  or  Hiilr  of  any  piirt  of  Hwh**  Imllitn  lumU  woiilil  li<>  i>oii>>l)i(>ri'cl 
an  viiliil  or  Itlnitlni;  iwiIcmh  HKrcctI  to  by  ii  ^t'licr.tl  iiniriril,  ni'vcitlu'liMii 
pcrslsltfl  in  collfrlinir  toKetln-r  h  fi'w  cliirfN  of  Iv/o  or  llirti'  nuiioiio  only, 
hikI  with  tht'in  lii'ld  n  troiity  for  th**  ithnIom  of  tin  liiiiiirnMi>  roiiniry,  in 
wliii'li  thi'y  were  no  inoni  Inti'rrMti'd,  than  um  ii  branch  ol*  the  ^cmituI  con. 
fi'dcrncy,  and  who  went  In  no  nmnncr  aiithori/.i'tl  to  iiiako  any  ^rant  or 
poti('('"<Hion  wliatrvcr, 

UrntlH'rH:  flow  »ln'n  wan  It  poHrtil»h«  for  you  to  I'xpcct  to  enjoy  p»'B(«t, 
ami  i|iiirtly  to  liold  tlicm'  laiidH,  when  your  (ronimlMMionn  wuh  liifornwd, 
lull);  hcfori'  lui  had  tlii<  trraly  of  Fort  llariiiar,  thattho  ronMcnt  of  a  nvn- 
criil  oouiicil  WUH  abMolutt'ly  ncci-MHary  to  convy  any  part  of  thcsr  laiiiln  to 
thi>  rnlti'd  SlatcH.  The  part  of  IIichc  landM  which  tin-  riiitcd  Stalcrt  now 
winii  iiH  to  rclln(|ulHh  and  which  you  Huy  aru  settled,  have  been  Huld  by  tho 
(Jiiitid  StatcN  Hliitre  thnt  time, 

llrotliiTs:  You  nay  "the  United  Stiiten  wish  to  have  conflrined  all  the 
liinil'' I'i'ded  to  them  by  the  treaty  of  Fort  llarnuir,  anil  aJHo  a  Hinall  tract 
Ht  tlic  rapid!*  of  the  Ohio,  claiined  by  (}«Mi.  ("lark,  for  the  une  of  hiniHelf 
niKl  IiIh  warrioi-N.  And,  In  coiiHideration  thereof,  tlie  United  HtaleH  would 
itivf  (tiich  a  larjr*'  >*inn  of  money  or  jjoodn  hh  vnin  never  fjiven,  at  any  one 
tiiiii',  for  any  (juantity  of  Indian  lamlN,  Hince  the  white  people  first  set 
tlu'lr  feel  on  tills  Island.  And,  hecaUHc  these  lands  did  every  year  hirnlsh 
you  with  skins  and  l\irs,  with  which  you  bou^lit  clothing  and  other  ncces- 
aiirics,  the  United  States  will  now  furnish  tlie  like  (*oiistant  supplies.  And, 
tliercfore,  besides  the  gttnxt  sum  to  be  dtllver«Ml  at  once,  they  will  every 
yt'iir  deliver  you  a  lar^e  quantity  of  such  ^oods  as  are  best  Utted  to  the 
wiiiits  of  yourselves,  your  women  and  children." 

Brothers;  Money  to  us  Is  of  no  value,  and  to  most  of  us  unknown ;  and, 
«s  no  consideriiti(UJ  wh-itevcr  can  induce  us  to  sell  the  lands  on  which  we 
Rct  Hustenance  for  cmr  women  and  cliildren,  we  hope  we  maybe  allowed  ta 
point  out  a  mode  by  wliich  your  settlers  may  be  «Misily  removed,  and  peace 
thereliy  obtained. 

Brothers:  We  know  that  these  settlers  .ire  poor,  or  they  would  never 
have  ventured  to  live  In  a  country  which  has  been  in  continual  trouble 
ever  since  they  crossed  the  Ohio.     Divide,  therefore,  this  larj^c  sum  of 


1334 


TIIK    lAWa   OF    PONTIAO    ANl»   TKiUMSKIi: 


money,  which  you  hiivo  otlVri-il  to  u»,  iimonji;  tlmsc  pooph'.  Give  to  cati,^ 
also,  II  proportion  of  wluit  you  siiy  you  would  glvv  to  u»,  iinnuiilly,  over 
and  above  this  very  largo  sum  of  money;  and,  as  we  are  persuaded,  they 
would  most  readily  accept  of  it  in  lieu  of  the  land  you  sold  them.  If  you 
add,  also,  the  great  suras  you  must  expend  in  raising  and  paying  anules, 
with  a  view  to  force  us  to  yield  you  our  country,  you  will  certainly  have 
more  than  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  repaying  these  settlers  for  all  their 
labor  and  their  improvements. 

Brothers:  You  have  talked  to  us  about  concessions.  It  appears  stranKi; 
that  you  sliould  expect  any  from  us  who  have  only  been  defending  our 
just  rights  against  your  invaai<ms.  Wo  want  peace.  Uestore  to  us  our 
country  and  we  shall  be  enemies  no  longer. 

Brothers :  You  make  one  concession  to  us  by  offering  us  your  monoy, 
and  another  by  having  agreed  to  do  us  justice,  after  having  long  and 
injuriously  witiiheld  it;  we  mean  in  the  acknowledgment  you  now  have 
made,  that  the  King  of  England  never  did,  nor  never  had  u  right  to  give 
you  our  country,  by  the  treaty  of  peace.  And  you  want  to  make  this  net 
of  common  justice  a  great  part  of  your  concessions,  and  seem  to  expect 
that,  because  you  have  at  last  acknowledged  our  independence,  we  should 
for  such  a  favor,  surrender  to  you  our  country. 

Brothers:  You  have  talked,  also,  a  great  deal  about  pre-emption,  and 
your  exclusive  right  to  purchase  Indian  lands,  as  ceded  to  you  by  the 
king  at  the  treaty  of  peace. 

Brothers:  We  never  made  any  agreement  with  tlie  king,  nor  with  any 
other  nation,  that  we  would  give  to  eitlier  the  exclusive  right  of  purdinsiuir 
our  lands ;  and  we  declare  to  you  that  we  consider  ourselves  free  to  inaitc 
any  bargain  or  cession  of  lands,  whenever  and  to  whomsoever  we  i>l('nse. 
If  the  white  people,  as  you  say,  made  a  treaty  that  none  of  them  but  llie 
king  should  purchase  of  us,  and  that  he  has  given  that  right  to  the  United 
States,  it  is  an  affair  which  concerns  you  and  him,  and  not  us;  we  have 
never  parted  with  such  a  power. 

Brothers :  At  our  general  council,  held  at  the  Glaize  last  fall,  we  agreed 
to  meet  commissioners  from  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  restoring 
peace,  provided  they  consented  to  acknowledge  and  confirm  our  boundary 
line  to  be  the  Ohio,  and  we  determined  not  to  meet  you,  until  you  gave  us 
satisfaction  on  that  point;  that  is  the  reason  we  have  never  mot. 

We  desire  you  to  consider,  brothers,  that  our  only  demand  is  the  peace- 
able possession  of  a  small  part  of  our  once  great  country.  Look  back  and 
review  the  lands  from  whence  we  have  been  driven  to  this  spot.  We  can 
retreat  no  farther,  because  the  country  beliind  hardly  affords  food  tor  its 
inhabitants;  and  we  have,  therefore,  resolved  to  leave  our  bones  in  tliis 
small  space  to  which  we  are  now  confined. 

Brothers:  We  shall  be  persuaded  that  you  mean  to  do  us  justice,  if  you 
agree  that  the  Ohio  shall  remain  the  boundary  line  between  us.  If  you 
will  not  consent  thereto,  our  meeting  will  be  altogether  unnecessary.  This 
is  the  great  point  which  we  hoped  would  have  been  explained  before  you 


OR,   THE   BORDER   WARS  OF  TWO  OENTORIEB. 


285 


^i 


left  your  liomi'H,  aa  our  meHHugo,  last  fall,  was  principally  directed  to 
obtain  that  intbruiatinn. 

Done  la  gonoral  council,  at  the  foot  of  the  Maumee  Rapids,  the  thir- 
teenth (luy  of  August,  1708. 

Natiimt. 

MlAMIS, 

Ottawas, 
pottawavomiks, 

Sknecab, 
Shawano  BB, 

CUBROKBBB, 


Wyandots, 
Skvkn  Nations, 

of  Canadu, 
Delawakes, 
Nantakokieb, 
Ckeekh, 


Mohicans, 

CONNOTB, 

Mesbabaqobb, 
OjinwAB, 

MUNSBBS.  , 


This  communication  closed  the  attempts  of  the  United 
States  to  make  peace.  Wayne  had  pushed  forward  his  prepa- 
rations, but  was  still  at  "  Hobson's  choice,"  near  Fort 
Washington.  On  the  fifth  of  October,  1793,  he  wrote  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  saying  that  he  could  not  hope  to  have  more 
than  two  thousand  six  hundred  regular  troops,  three  hundred 
and  sixty  mounted  volunteers,  and  thirty-six  guides  and  spies 
to  go  with  him  into  the  country  of  the  enemy.  Yet  he  was 
hopeful,  and  thought  with  this  force  he  would  conquer  the 
enemy.  On  the  seventh  of  the  same  month,  the  leigon  left 
Cincinnati,  and  upon  the  thirteenth,  without  any  accident, 
encamped  in  a  strong  position.  Here,  upon  the  twenty-fourth 
of  October,  he  was  joined  by  one  thousand  mounted  Kentucky 
volunteers  under  Gen.  Scott,  to  whom  he  had  written  pressing 
requests  to  hasten  forward  with  all  the  men  he  could  muster. 
This  request  Scott  hastened  to  comply  with,  and  the  Governor, 
upon  the  twenty-eighth  of  September,  had  ordered,  in  addition, 
a  draft  of  militia.  The  Kentucky  troops,  however,  were  soon 
dismissed  again,  until  spring;  but  their  march  had  not  been  in 
vain,  for  they  had  seen  enough  of  Wayne's  army  to  give  them 
confidence  in  it  and  in  him;  and  upon  their  return  home, 
spread  that  confidence  abroad,  so  that  the  full  number  of  vol- 
unteers was  easily  procured  in  the  spring.* 

The  troops  had  been  attacked  once  previous  to  the  twenty- 
third  of  October,  within  seven  miles  of  Fort  St.  Clair,  and 
Lieut.  Lowery  and  Ensign  Boyl,  with  thirteen  others,  were 
killed.      Although   so  little  opposition  had   thus  far   been 

♦  Western  Annals.  . 


236 


THE   LIVES  OF   PONTIAO  AND  TEOUHSEH: 


encountered,  General  Wayne  determined  to  stay  where  he 
was,  for  the  winter,  and  having  seventy  thousand  rations  on  hand 
in  October,  with  the  prospect  of  one  liundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand more,  while  the  Indians  were  sure  to  be  short  of  provisions, 
he  proceeded  to  fortify  his  position ;  which  he  named  Fort  Green- 
ville, and  which  wis  situated  upon  the  spot  now  occupied  by 
the  town  of  that  name.  This  being  done  on  the  twenty-third 
or  twenty-fourth  of  December,  a  detachment  was  sent  forward 
to  take  possession  of  the  iield  of  St.  Clair's  defeat.  They 
arrived  upon  the  spot  upon  Christmas  day.  "  Six  hundred 
skulls,"  says  one  present,  ''  were  gathered  up  and  burie.! ;  when 
we  went  to  lay  down  in  our  tents  at  night,  we  had  to  scrape 
the  bones  together  and  carry  them  out,  to  make  our  beds  * 
Here  they  built  Fort  Recovery,  which  was  properly  garrisoned 
and  placed  under  the  comir     l  of  Capt.  Alexander  Gibson. 

During   the  early  mon  ^  .  1794,   Wayne  was  steadily 

engaged  in  preparing  every;  i  -^  for  a  sure  blow  when  the  time 
came,  and  by  means  of  Capt.  Gibson  and  his  various  spies, 
kept  himself  informed  of  the  plans  and  movements  of  the  sav- 
ages. All  his  information  showed  the  faith  in  British  assistance 
which  still  animated  the  doomed  race  of  red  men. 

♦  American  Pioneer.    Western  Annals. 


W 


\\ 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


General  Watnr'b  Battle  on  the  Banks  of  the  Mauheb  — Posi- 
tion OF  the  Ameuican  and  Indian  Forceu — The  Victory — New 
Forts  Erected — Destruction  of  Indian  Dwellings — The  Indi- 
ans Sue  for  Peace— The  Treatt  of  Ghebnville. 

At  Fobt  Rkoovery,  on  the  thirtieth  of  June,  1794,  the 
advanced  American  post  was  assailed  by  Little  Turtle,  at  the 
head  of  fifteen  hundred  warriors.  Such  was  their  answer  to 
the  messages  of  peace  which  the  American  gcvernment  had 
8cnt  among  them — and,  although  i'epelled,  the  assailants  rallied 
and  returned  to  the  charge,  and  kept  up  the  attack  through  the 
whole  of  the  day.  Among  tlie  Indians  were  a  large  number 
of  British,*  who  were  aiding  them,  and  who,  it  would  seem, 
expected  to  find  the  artillery  ciptured  from  St.  Clair  on  the 
fourth  of  the  previous  November;  but,  fortunately,  the  Amer- 
icans had  already  discovered  them,  and  they  were  now  used  in 
defending  Fort  Recovery. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  July,  Scott  with  some  sixteen  hun- 
dred mounted  men  from  Kentucky,  joined  Wayne  at  Greenville, 
and  on  the  twenty-eighth  the  whole  legion  moved  forward. 
On  the  eighth  of  August,  the  army  reached  the  Grand  Glaize, 
near  the  junction  of  the  Maumee  and  Auglaize,  and  at  once 
proceeded  to  build  Fort  Defiance.f  While  engaged  upon  this 
fort,  Wayne  received  full  information  of  the  movements  of  the 
Indians,  and  the  aid  they  were  to  receive  from  the  volunteers 
of  Detroit  and  elsewhere,  and,  after  considering  the  situation 
of  afiairs,  he  determined  to  march  forward  and  strike  the  blow 
at  once.    But,  however,  before  taking  this  step,  he  sent  a  special 

•  General  Wayne's  Report.    American  State  Papers. 

t  American  Pioneer.    Western  Annals.  . 

(287) 


288 


THK   IJVU8  UF    I'UMTIAO   AND  llCCl'MSKIi: 


mc8Hen^er  tu  tlie  hostile  Indians,  with  the  following  last  offer 
of  peace: 

2\i  the  Diiiiwnri't,  Shaieanoes,  MiamiH  and  Wyandot*,  and  to  each  and  every 
of  them,  and  tu  all  other  nation*  of  Indian*,  northwest  of  the  Ohin,  wkm 
tt  may  concern  : 

I,  Anthony  Wayne,  Major-Genurul  and  Communder-in-Cliief  of  tlie  Fed- 
eral army  now  at  Grand  Glai7X>,  and  commisaioner  plenipotentiary  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  for  settlinjr  the  terms  upon  which  a  pi^nnunenl 
and  lastinjj  peace  shall  be  made  with  each  and  every  of  the  hostile  tiibci*, 
or  nations  of  Indians  nortliwest  of  the  Ohio,  and  of  the  said  United  States, 
actuated  by  the  purest  principles  of  humanity,  and  urged  by  pity  tor  the 
errors  into  which  bad  and  designing  men  have  led  you,  fVom  the  head  of 
my  army,  now  in  possession  of  your  abandoned  villaf^es  and  settlements, 
do  hereby  once  more  extend  the  friendly  hand  of  pence  towards  you,  and 
invite  each  and  every  of  the  hostile  tribes  of  Indians  to  appoint  deputies 
to  meet  me  and  my  army,  without  delay,  between  this  place  and  Uoche  de 
Bout,  in  order  to  settle  the  preliminaries  of  a  lasting  peace,  which  may 
eventually  and  soon  restore  to  you,  the  Delawares,  Miamis,  Shawanoes 
and  all  other  tribes  and  nations  lately  settled  at  this  place,  and  on  the 
margins  of  the  Miami  and  Auglaize  rivers,  your  late  grounds  and  posses- 
sions, and  to  preserve  you  and  your  distressed  and  hapless  women  and 
children  from  danger  and  famine,  during  the  present  fail  and  ensuing 
winter. 

The  arm  of  tlie  United  States  is  strong  and  powerful,  but  they  love  mercy 
and  kindness  more  than  war  and  desolation. 

And  to  remove  any  doubts  or  apprehensions  of  dangor  to  the  persons  of 
the  deputies  whom  you  may  appoint  to  meet  this  army,  I  hereby  pledge 
my  sacred  honor  for  their  safety  and  return,  and  send  Christopher  Miller, 
an  adopted  Shawanoe,  and  ti  Shawanoe  warrior,  whom  I  took  prisoner  two 
days  ago,  as  a  ftatx,  who  will  advance  in  their  front  to  meet  me. 

Mr.  Miller  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  party  of  my  warriors,  six  moons 
since,  and  can  testify  to  you  the  kindness  which  I  have  shown  to  your 
people,  my  prisoners,  that  is,  five  warriors  and  two  women,  who  are  now 
all  safe  and  well  at  Greenville. 

But,  should  this  invitation  be  disregarded,  and  ray  flag,  Mr.  Miller,  be 
detained  or  injured,  I  will  immediately  order  all  those  prisoners  to  be  put 
to  death,  without  distinction,  and  some  of  them  are  known  to  belonjf  to 
the  first  families  of  your  nation. 

Brothers :  Be  no  longer  deceived  or  led  astray  by  the  false  promises  and 
language  of  the  bad  white  men  at  the  foot  of  the  Rapids;  they  have 
neither  power  nor  inclination  to  protect  you.  No  longer  shut  your  eyes 
to  your  true  interest  and  happiness,  nor  your  ears  to  this  overture  of  peace. 
But,  in  pity  to  your  innocent  women  and  children,  come  and  prevent  the 
further  effusion  of  your  blood ;  let  them  experience  the  kindness  and 
friendship  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  invaluable  blessings 
of  peace  and  tranquility.  ANTHONY  WAYNE. 

Grand  Gi.aize,  August  13tli,  1794. 


OK,    Tlllj;    BOKUUK    WAK8    OF  TWO    (^KNTUHIhH 


281^ 


Hut  Wayne  did  not  remain  idle  waiting  for  an  answer,  but 
muved  on  with  IiIh  troops,  and  ou  the  sixteenth  of  August  he 
met  hie  messengers  returning  with  information  that  if  the 
Americans  would  wait  ten  days  the  Indians  would  decide  for 
peace  or  war.  Wayne  replied  to  this  by  marching  rapidly 
forward. 

After  advancing  forty-one  miles  from  Grand  Glaize,  and 
being  near  the  expected  enemy,  Wayne,  on  the  eighteenth, 
halted  his  army  and  began  the  erection  of  Fort  Deposit,  which 
was  intended  as  a  protection  to  the  baggage  during  the 
expected  battle.  On  the  same  day  five  of  Wayne's  spies,  among 
whom  was  jMay,  the  man  who  had  been  sent  after  Trueman, 
and  who  had  pretended  to  desert  to  the  Indians,  rode  into  the 
very  camp  of  the  enemy ;  in  attempting  to  retreat  again.  May's 
horse  fell  and  he  was  taken.  The  following  day,  the  day  before 
the  battle,  he  was  tied  to  a  tree  and  shot  at  as  a  target.* 

On  the  twentieth  Wayne's  forces  moved  down  the  north 
bank  of  the  Maumee,  the  legion  on  its  right,  the  flank  covered 
by  the  Maumee;  one  brigade  of  mounted  volunteers  on  the 
left,  under  Brigadier-General  Todd,  and  the  other  in  the  rear 
under  Brigadier-General  Barbee,  A  select  battalion  of  mounted 
volunteers  moved  in  front  of  the  legion,  commanded  by  Major 
Price,  who  was  directed  to  keep  sutficiently  advanced  so  as  to 
yive  timely  notice  for  the  troops  to  form  in  case  of  action. 
Having  advanced  about  Ave  miles,  Major  Price's  corps  received 
a  very  severe  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  wei'e  secreted  in  the 
woods  and  high  grass.  After  a  short  contest  the  advanced 
guard  retreated.  The  legion  was  immediately  formed  into 
two  lines  in  the  midst  of  a  close,  thick  woods,  which  extended 
for  a  considerable  distance  on  'either  hand.  The  ground  was 
covered  with  fallen  timber,  probably  occasioned  by  a  tornado, 
which  rendered  it  impracticable  for  the  cavalry  to  act  with 
effect,  and  afforded  the  enemy  a  favorable  opportunity  for 
their  peculiar  mode  of  fighting. 

Tlie  savages  were  formed  into  three  lines,  within  supporting 
distance  of  each  other,  and  extending  nearly  two  miles  at  right 
angles  with  the  river.     Wayne  soon  discovered,   from   the 

*  American  Pioneer — Western  Annals. 


240 


THK   UVVH   OF    K)NTrA<l    AND   TKCHMHKIi: 


weight  of  tilt'  tiiv  iiikI  uxttMit  of  the  Iiidiun  Iuh'h,  that  the 
enemy  were  in  full  force  in  front,  in  |)os8eH8ion  of  their  fnv(»riu> 
grouucl.  and  endeavoring  to  tnrn  \\\»  left  llank.  He  therefore 
gave  orders  for  the  Hccoml  line  to  advance  and  HU]>)K)rt  tliu 
iirKt,  and  directed  Major-(Jeneral  Scott  to  gain  and  turn  the 
right  flank  of  the  eavages  with  the  whole  of  the  mounted  vdj. 
unteern,  hy  a  circuitous  route.  At  the  same  time  the  (niiu'rai 
ortlered  the  front  line  to  advance  and  charge  with  trailed  anus 
and  rouse  the  Indianm  from  their  coverts  at  the  point  of  the 
bavonet,  and  when  np  to  deliver  a  clt>se  and  well  directed  tire 
on  their  hacks,  followed  hy  a  brisk  charge,  so  as  not  to  give 
them  time  to  load  again. 

Wayne  also  ordered  Ca]>tain  Campbell,  who  commanded  the 
^agionary  cavalry,  to  tnrn  the  left  thiidv  of  the  enemy  next  to 
the  river.  All  tluise  orders  were  obeyed  with  spirit  and 
promptness.  Such  was  the  effect  of  the  charge  by  the  first 
line  of  infantry  that  the  Indians  and  (/anadian  militia  and 
volunteers  wen;  driven  from  their  strongholds  before  the 
second  line  of  the  legion  and  the  mounted  volunteers  could 
got  np  to  participate  in  the  action.  The  enemy  was  driven,  in 
the  course  of  one  hour,  more  than  two  miles  through  the  tliick 
woods  already  mentioned,  by  less  than  one-half  their  nuiiihiT. 
From  every  account  the  Indians  amounted  to  two  thouwuid 
combatants.  The  troops  actually  engaged  against  them  were 
short  of  nine  hundred.  This  horde  of  savages,  with  their 
allies,  abandoned  themselves  to  flight,  and  disjiersed  with 
terror  and  dismay,  leaving  Wayne's  victorious  army  in  full 
and  quiet  possession  of  the  field  of  battle. 

In  reporting  the  battle  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  Wayne  says, 
"  the  bravery  and  conduct  of  every  officer  behmging  to  the 
army,  from  the  Generals  down  to  the  ensigns,  merit  my  highest 
approbation."  The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  nnieh 
heavier  on  the  side  of  the  enemy  than  in  Wayne's  army.*  For 
a  considerable  distance  the  woods  were  strewn  with  the  doiid 
bodies  of  Indiana  and  their  white  auxiliaries.     The  Americans 


*  Tlio  lo,«*s  of  the  Americans  in  tins  action  was  tliirty-tlirec  killed  and 
one  hundred  wounded,  includinsr  twenty-one  otHcers,  of  wliom  only  five 
were  killed. — Ed. 


lu'  says, 
to  the 
liiijhest 
s  lunch 
.*  For 
ln'  (kiid 
icrii'iiib 

llled  iind 
ly  five 


f*5 


ion 


reinainc 

Manrnc( 

houses  1 

distance 

pistol  si 

The  a 

la^'ing  M 

for  aboi 

Wayne  i 

ening  tl 

villages 

build  Fo 

was  j)laci 

October. 

On  th< 

marcb  to 

fortified  i 

measure, 

latter  so< 

Deeembe 

H'as,  Saw 

tnirnck,  t 

and  on  tli 

entered,  t 

into  preli 

truth  was 

conduct  0 

August. 

that  a  fori 

giving  re: 

the  gates 

winter,  W 

the  poor  i 

did  not  ha 

were  tlieii 

losing  fait: 

for  Ameri( 

their  mine 


OK,   TIIK    UOKDKK    WAUM  0¥   TWO  CKNTUKIKH. 


941 


remained  three  days  and  ni^htM  on  the  banks  u.'  the  river 
Mantnuo,  in  front  of  the  field  of  battle,  during  which  all  the 
houseft  and  cornfields  wore  consumed  and  destroyed  for  a  long 
distance  both  above  and  below  Fort  Miami,  as  well  as  within 
pJBtol  shot  of  the  British  garrison. 

The  army  returned  to  Fort  Defiance  on  the  twenty-seventh, 
laying  waste  in  its  return  march  the  villages  and  cornfields 
for  about  fifty  miles  on  either  side  of  the  Maumee.  Here 
Wayne  remained  until  the  fourteenth  of  Septeml>er,  strength- 
eiiing  the  works.  On  this  date  he  marched  for  the  Miami 
villages  at  the  junction  of  the  St.  Joseph  and  St.  Mary,  to 
build  Fort  Wayne,  which  was  named  by  Col.  Ilamtramck,  who 
wa8  [>laced  in  command  of  this  post  on  the  twenty-second  of 
October. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  October  the  legion  began  ite  return 
march  to  Greenville,  leaving  the  posts  it  had  established  well 
fortified  and  strongly  garrisoned.  The  British  now,  to  a  great 
measure,  withhold  their  support  from  the  Indians,  and  the 
latter  soon  began  to  sue  for  peace.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of 
December,  1704,  the  chiefs  of  the  Chippewas,  (Ojibwas)  Otta- 
waH,  Sacs,  Pottawatomies,  and  Miamis,  came  to  Col.  Ham- 
tmmck,  the  commandant  at  Fort  Wayne,  with  peace  messages, 
and  on  tlie  twenty-fourth  of  Jannary,  1795,  at  Greenville,  they 
entered,  together  with  the  Delawares,  Wyandots  and  Shawanoes, 
into  preliminary  articles  with  the  (Jommander-in-Chief.  The 
truth  was,  the  red  men  had  been  entirely  disappointed  in  the 
conduct  of  their  white  allies  after  their  defeat  on  the  previous 
August.  Brant,  in  giving  his  feelings  on  this  matter,  said 
that  a  fort  had  been  built  in  their  country  under  pretence  of 
giving  refuge  in  case  of  necessity,  but  when  that  time  came 
the  gates  were  shut  against  them  as  enemies.  During  the 
winter,  Wayne  having  entirely  laid  waste  their  fertile  fields, 
the  poor  savages  were  wholly  dependent  on  the  English,  who 
did  not  half  supply  them ;  their  cattle  and  dogs  died,  and  they 
were  themselves  nearly  starved.  Under  these  circumstances, 
losing  faith  in  the  English,  and  at  last  impressed  with  a  respect 
for  American  power,  the  various  tribes,  by  degrees,  made  up 
their  minds  to  ask  for  peace.  During  the  winter  and  spring 
16 


242 


TIIK    I.IVKf*  op    rilNTIAfi    ANI>  TKCirMHKIi: 


they  exchnni;^!  prinoiierfi  hixI  |>ro|>firtHl  to  inw^t  Wnyn'^  at 
Orocnvillo,  in  Juno,  tor  tlio  piirpoHu  of  forming  a  <l(>Hnitc 
troaty  tbundod  upon  the  prt^liniinuriuM  which  hud  bp(>n  CHtuh. 
lishod  on  the  pruviouR  Junimry,  of  which  mention  tiu«  ulrciidy 
been  made. 

Accordingly,  onrly  in  June,  1705,  the  ropre«entatlve«  of  tlip 
Northwestern  trilwH  \mgn\i  to  gatlicr  at  (Jrccnville,  and  i>ii  tli« 
sixteenth  of  tliat  month  (General  Wayne  met  in  council  the 
DelawaroB,  OttawaH,  PottawatomieH,  and  Eel  liiver  IiidiiiiiK. 
Tlie  council  continued  until  the  tontli  of  AugUHt.  8oon  utttr 
the  council  opened  other  noted  chiefrt  began  to  arrive.  Anioii^ 
these  were  BuckongehelaH,  Little  Turtle,  Tarke,  Hlue  iliicket, 
and  MasasH.  They  had  all  determined  to  make  a  pcrtnaiioiit 
peace  with  the  "Thirteen  Fire,"  and  upon  the  thirtieth  of  .liilv 
the  treaty  was  agreed  upon,  which  was  to  btiry  the  Imtcliet 
forever.  It  was  signed  by  all  the  nations  present,  and  the 
presents  from  the  United  States  distributed  forthwith. 

This  treaty  which,  perhaps,  is  the  most  important  one  ever 
made  between  the  red  men  of  the  forest  and  the  Americniiis, 
cotitained  the  following  provisions:* 

AuT.  1.     HoHtHitlcH  wero  to  coaso. 

Art.  2.    All  prisoiHTH  were  to  be  restored, 

AiiT.  8.  The  geiicnil  boundary  lines  between  the  landH  of  ilic  rnitcil 
Stiites  iind  the  lands  of  the  said  Indian  tribes,  sliall  be^in  at  tlie  moutlmr 
Cuyahojfa  river,  and  run  thenoo  up  tl»e  same  to  tlie  portage  between  tlmt 
and  the  Tuscarawas  branch  of  the  Musliinguni;  tliencu  down  that  brunrii 
to  the  crossing  place  above  Port  Lawrence;  tlience  westwardly,  to  ii  torit 
of  that  brancit  of  the  Great  Miami  river,  running  Into  the  Ohio,  at  or  near 
which  fork  stood  Laramie's  store,  and  wher(!  contmences  the  porlatrp 
between  the  Miami  of  the  Ohio  and  8t.  Mary's  river,  which  Is  a  bruncii  of 
the  Miami  which  runs  Into  Lake  Erie;  thence  a  westerly  course,  to  Fort 
Recovery,  which  stands  on  a  branch  of  the  Wabash ;  tlicncc  southwesterly, 
In  a  direct  line  to  the  Ohio,  so  as  to  Intersect  that  river  opposite  tl;e  mouth 
of  Kentucky  or  Cuttawa  river.  And  In  consideration  of  the  peace  now 
established;  of  the  goods  formerly  received  from  the  United  States;  of 
those  now  to  be  delivered;  and  of  the  yearly  delivery  of  goods  now  stipu- 
lated to  be  made  hereafter;  and  to  indemnify  the  United  States  for  liie 
injuries  and  expenses  they  have  sustained  during  the  war;  the  said  Iiuliau 
tribes  do  hereby  cede  and  relinquish,  forever,  all  their  claims  to  the  lands 
lying  eastwardly  and   southwardly  of  the  general  boundary  line  now 


■*  'American  State  Papers.    Western  Annals. 


(»K,    TUK    ROKDKK    WAKM   or   TWO   tlKNTHKlKK. 


248 


(|i>ii<>rllM<(l ;  And  tlioM  litmU,  or  iiny  piirt  of  litem,  nIimII  npvnr  li<*rMift«r  Imi 
iDHilf  »  t'Himo  or  prc<lf>nM\  on  Uu\  piirt  ot'  tlio  nmIiI  '.rllwii,  or  any  of  tliein, 
of  Mar  or  lii.l'try  to  tliv  Unlt«i<l  HtntcN,  or  any  other  p«npl«  tUervot. 

And  lor  till'  minu'  conNltlcrntion,  itnd  lu  Hn  <>vidrncfl  of  tho  rdturnlng 
frlimditliip  oC  tliif  NHid  Indian  trlbm,  of  their  confldence  In  the  Unltrnl 
Stiiti'i*,  Hnd  desire  to  proviiie  for  their  kCconiinod«tlon,  and  for  thftt  conve- 
nirnt  intereotirite  whifh  will  )m'  iM-neflrlnl  to  Imth  partlei,  the  Mid  Indinn 
tril)fM  do  mIhu  retle  lo  tlie  United  HtiiteN  the  following  plccen  of  Und,  to-wlt: 
i  Onn  pieeo  of  Innd  mIx  inlleN  M«|UAre,  At  or  nenr  l.iirAinie'ii  iitnre,  lifrore 
mriitloned  2.  One  piece,  two  mile*  MqiiHre,  Ht  the  heAd  of  the  nAvlKHhIu 
wnttT  or  hindinK.  «>n  the  Ht.  Mnry'ii  river,  near  Olrty'n  town.  H.  One 
|)ii>cc,  nix  niiloH  Hqiiure,  iit  tho  head  of  the  nAvlgablo  WAtem  of  the  AuglAlsa 
river.  4.  One  piece,  hIx  mlleH  tquAre,  Ht  tho  confluence  of  the  Auglaise 
itnil  Miiinii  rivern,  where  Fort  Deflancn  now  KtAnds,  R.  One  piece,  nix 
mlli'H  H(|iinre,  At  or  near  the  confluence  of  tho  rivori  St.  Mary'H  and  Ht. 
.[(isepiiV,  whiTo  Fort  Wayne  now  Ntands,  or  near  It.  0.  One  piece,  two 
niiii'H  M(|uare,  on  the  Wnhuiih  river,  at  the  end  of  the  portage  from  the 
Miunii  of  tiie  lulce,  and  about  eight  mileii  wcHtward  fk-om  Fort  Wayne.  7. 
Dill!  |)k>ce,  hIx  inilcN  H((uaro,  at  tlio  Ouatanon,  or  old  Wea  towns,  on  the 
Wiil)ii)ili  river.  H.  One  piece,  twelve  miloB  8(|uare,  at  tho  RritiRh  fort  on 
tlif  .Miami  of  tho  lak<>,  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids.  9.  One  piece,  six  milei 
!ti|iiari',  Ht  tlic  mouth  of  tho  said  river,  whero  it  empties  Into  tho  lake.  10. 
One  piece.  Mix  iiiilcH  s(|uure,  upon  HanduHky  iukc,  whore  a  fort  formerly 
*Um\.  11  One  piece,  two  milcM  square,  at  tho  lower  rapids  of  Handusky 
riviT.  Vi.  The  poHt  of  Detroit,  and  -.M  tho  lands  to  tho  north,  tho  west 
amlHouth  of  It,  of  which  tlio  Indian  title  has  been  extinguished  by  gifts  or 
i;riinl8  to  tlio  French  or  Knglish  governments;  and  so  much  more  land  to 
be  iiiincxed  to  the  district  of  Detroit,  as  shall  bo  comprehended  between 
the  river  litmiiio  on  the  south,  and  lake  St.  Clair  on  the  north,  and  a  line, 
the  ^rcnerul  course  whereof  shall  bo  six  miles  distant  from  the  west  end  of 
Lake  Krie  and  Detroit  rivcT.  18.  Tho  post  of  MIchilimacklnac,  and  all 
ti>e  land  on  the  island  on  which  that  post  stands,  and  tho  main  land  adja> 
rent,  of  which  the  Indian  title  has  boon  extinguiHiied  by  gifts  or  grants  to 
till'  Freiicli  or  English  governments;  and  a  piece  of  land  on  the  main  to 
lliL'  nortli  of  the  i.sland,  to  measure  six  miles,  on  Lake  Huron,  or  tho  strait 
between  Lake.s  Huron  and  Michigan,  and  to  extend  three  miles  back  fVora 
the  water  on  the  lake  or  strait;  and  also,  the  Island  de  Hois  Blanc,  being 
an  extra  and  voluntary  girt  of  the  Chippewa  nation.  14.  One  piece  of 
land,  six  miles  square,  at  the  mouth  of  Chicago  river,  emptying  Into  the 
southwest  end  of  Lake  Micliigan,  where  a  fort  formerly  stood.  18.  One 
piece,  twelve  miles  squaro,  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river, 
emptying  into  the  MiHsissippi.  16.  One  piece,  six  miles  square,  at  the 
old  Peorias  fort  and  village,  near  the  south  end  of  the  Illinois  lake,  ou 
said  Illinois  river.  And  whenever  the  United  States  shall  think  proper  to 
survey  and  mark  the  boundaries  of  the  lanils  hereby  ceded  to  them,  thoy 
shall  give  timely  notice  thereof  to  the  said  tribes  of  Indians,  that  they  may 


944 


TIIK   I.IVKM  or    foNTIAC    ANI»  T»;i'l  M«Kli: 


(   •  • 


Appoint  Mimi*  of  tlirlr  wIm*  vU\nt»  to  «lt«nil  mid  mp  Umt  llii*  llni*«  arr  run 
Meordlng  to  lh<>  lernia  of  ihla  trtmty. 

And  the  Mid  IndUn  trllH*^  will  »lluw  'm  th«  poopti<  nl'  the  IJnItiul  HlKtri, 
«  tttn)  pM««K«,  by  land  und  by  Wktitr,  m  one  Hnd  Ibc  otlu'i-  ahall  Ik*  fiMhtil 
Gonvnniont,  throuffh  th«lr  country,  mIoiik  the  ohiiln  of  poaiH  hcrrin  hcfnrf 
mrntinned ;  thut  U  to  nay :  ttoni  the  comini'nc<>m«<nl  of  thci  |><trtiiK«i  Mriiri> 
Mid,  Ml  or  nfl»r  Lammle'ii  atorfl,  thenofl  alonK  mUI  porluRo,  to  tho  Ht.  Miiry'*, 
•nd  d(»wn  th«  Mnio  to  Fort  W»yne,  »nd  th<>n  down  llii<  MUmI  to  l.ukr 
Erl«;  hkhIi),  fVom  tho  conuuvnceinent  of  Ihu  portuKc,  Ht  or  mmr  Liiri(inli>'« 
•tore,  «lonK  tliM  port«K«,  from  Miimce  to  the  river  AukI«I/><%  und  down  tiio 
Mine  to  Ita  Junction  with  the  MlumI  «t  Port  l>etlnn<M< ;  iiK»ln,  ttnm  {\w 
coninionnuiiont  of  the  portiiKe  Rft>ro»iild,  to  Sunduaky  river,  and  down  the 
■uiiHt  to  BitndiiNky  bny,  and  LhIiu  Krie,  itnd  fri>in  Haiiduaky  to  tho  \mm 
whiuli  •hnll  bu  lMk«n  Ht  ur  ucnr  the  foot  of  the  rHpUU  of  the  Mlmiil  of  the 
Uko;  and  fk-om  thence  to  Detroit.  AffHln,  ft-oin  the  mouth  of  ChlcuKo 
rlv«>r,  to  tho  cointnencomfnt  of  the  portn^e  between  thxt  river  lunl  the  Illi- 
nola,  and  down  the  Illinoia  to  the  MUalaalppI;  hUo,  f^om  Fort  Wnyni', 
alouK  the  portiiKO  aforeaald,  which  lenda  to  the  Wnbiiah,  and  then  down 
the  Wnbnah  to  the  Ohio.  And  the  aald  Indian  tribea  will  uiao  allow  to  the 
people  of  the  United  Htatca,  tho  free  UMe  of  the  harbora  and  mouthNuf 
rIvorM,  hIohk  the  lakea  udJolniuK  the  Indian  tanda,  for  RhvlterinK  vetiiicli 
and  boulM,  und  liberty  to  land  their  carguua  when  nocoMary  for  their 
■ntely. 

Aht.  4.  In  conNidvration  of  the  peace  now  cMtubliahed,  and  (»r  rliecei- 
■lona  anil  rulinquiHlimentH  of  landa,  made  in  the  preceding  article,  I)}'  tlie 
aaid  tril)«<H  of  Indiana,  and  to  manlfeat  tho  liberality  of  tho  United  Htatct, 
aa  the  ^^rciit  ineana  of  rcnderinjif  tbia  peace  alrong  and  perpetual,  tlic  Uniti-d 
BtatcH  reiiiiquiflb  thotr  clainia  to  all  other  Indian  landa,  northward  of  the 
river  Oltio,  cHHtward  of  the  MiaHiHsippi,  and  wcatward  and  aouthwHrd  of 
tlie  Oreat  LakcH,  and  the  watera  uniting  them,  according  to  tho  boundary 
line  agreed  on  by  the  United  Btatea  and  tho  King  of  Great  Britain,  in  the 
treaty  of  peace  made  between  them  in  the  year  1788.  But  ft-om  tlilH  rpJlD- 
quiahment  by  the  United  Btatea,  the  following  tracta  of  land  arc  cxplicltly 
oxcopted:  lat.  The  tract  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thouaand  acrea,  near 
the  rapida  of  the  river  Uhio,  which  haa  been  aaaigncd  to  Ocnorui  Cinrit, 
for  the  U80  of  himaoif  and  his  warriors.  2d.  The  poat  at  St.  Vincennei, 
on  the  river  Wabaah,  and  the  landa  adjacent,  of  which  tho  Indian  title  ]m 
been  cxtlnguiahed.  8d.  The  landa  at  all  other  places,  in  poaacasion  of  the 
French  people,  and  other  white  settlers  among  ti'cm,  of  which  th>>  Indiun 
title  haa  been  extinguished,  as  inuntioned  In  the  8d  article;  and  4th.  The 
pont  of  Fort  Massac,  towarda  tli«  mouth  of  th4  Ohio.  To  which  several 
parcels  of  land,  bo  excepted,  the  said  tribes  rtlinquish  all  the  title  and 
claim,  which  they  or  any  of  them  may  have. 

And,  for  tho  aamo  consideration,  and  with  the  same  views  as  above  men- 
tinned,  the  United  States  now  deliver  to  tho  said  Indian  tril>cs,  a  quantity 
of  goods  t4>  the  value  of  twenty  thouaand  dollars,  the  receipt  whereof  they 
do  hereby  acknowledge;  and  henceforward,  every  year,  forever,  tho  United 


ON,    rilK    MoKttKK    WAKM   or    TWO   (KNTI  NIM. 


24  A 


MUlri  will  ilrllvi>r,  aI  M>mr  convnilriit  pliirr,  norlhwftril  of  lhf>  rivrr  (Milo, 
|lk'<  \i»fM  g«HMU,  aiillrd  to  tlip  rlrruntRUnm  of  tlii*  Intlliina,  of  thi*  v«liia 
of  nine  tliiituHntI  ftvi*  liuniir«<<l  dolUra;  rrcknnlnic  ihMt  v»|iiit  «l  thi*  Aral 
I'  ml  of  lh<*  kimhIi  In  lh<«  city  or  pUro  In  tli**  t'nlliMl  Hliiti>a,  whrrf*  ihry  almll  \m 
priM'iiri'tl.  T)i«  trl)M*«  to  which  thmv  kinhU  urn  to  lir  «nniiHlly  cl«<|lvi>rr«l, 
*nil  thi<  proporllona  In  which  thny  itr«  to  Iw  (hOlvrrrtl,  iirf  th«i  followlnft 

lit.  To  thn  Wyitnilota,  th«i  «moiiiit  of  om*  thoii«An<l  dollnra.  3<l.  To  tha 
Drlitwurm,  thn  nmount  of  on<i  thoitaiinil  ilullnrM.  H«i.  To  thii  Hhftw«no«a, 
thf  amount  of  onu  thoiiaand  dollara.  4lh.  To  thn  Mlamla,  the  »mniintnf 
mil' III!  iiMAntl  clolliira.  tth.  To  Ihi^  Otlnwna,  tha  «moiint  of  ono  thouaiind 
ijoliara.  )lth.  To  thn  (,'hlppt'WM.  the  nmount  of  ono  thouannd  dolUra. 
Tth  To  tho  I'ottawiitomica,  tho  tmoiint  of  nn«  thouaand  dolUra.  8th. 
Ami  to  tho  KIckapoo,  W(<n,  Rfl  Itlvcr,  l'lnnkcah«w  iind  KMkiukl*  trlln^a, 
iliH  amount  of  (Irn  hundri'il  dolliira  t<Kch. 

l^ovUIrd,  thnt  if  clthi'r  of  th«>  aald  trlt)i>a  ahall  hpre«ftfr,  nt  Hn  nnnuiil 
lifliri'ry  of  their  ahurn  nf  thn  gcHtda  iifori>ai»ld,  dnalro  that  «  purt  of  th«lr 
nnnulty  ahould  bo  ftirnlahcd  In  domeatic  unlmKla,  lmpl<>monta  of  huo- 
Imndry,  and  other  utrnalla,  convenient  for  thcin,  iind  In  coinpenMtlon  to 
uicfui  artlllcera  who  mny  realdtt  with  or  nmr  l\wm,  and  he  employed  for 
tlicir  l)eneflt,  the  aamn  ahull,  nt  tho  aubaeqtirnt  snnuMi  dellvcrlva,  bo  f\ir> 
nUlicd  accordingly. 

Art.  Q.  To  prevent  any  mUunderatnndlng,  about  the  Indian  landa 
ri'lln(|ulahed  by  tho  United  Slntea,  In  the  fourth  article,  it  la  now  explicitly 
(li'clared,  that  the  meuning  of  that  relinqulahment  la  thia;  tho  Indian 
U\\>c»  who  have  a  right  to  thcae  landa,  arc  quietly  to  enjoy  them,  hunting, 
planting  and  dwelling  thereon,  ao  long  aa  they  pleaae,  without  any  molca. 
tation  from  lli"  United  Hiatea;  but  when  thoao  tribea,  or  any  of  them,  ahall 
bcdUpoacd  toaell  their  landa,  or  any  part  of  them,  they  arc  to  be  aold 
only  to  tho  United  Btatea;  and  until  aurh  aale,  the  United  Statea  will  pro- 
tect nil  the  aaid  Indian  trllu-a.  In  the  quiot  enjoyment  of  their  landa, 
agninHt  all  citizens  of  tho  United  Statea,  and  againat  all  other  white  per 
loMM  who  intrude  upon  the  aamo.  And  tho  aald  Indian  tribes  again 
acl(nnwlcdge  themaclvca  to  he  under  the  protection  of  the  United  States, 
and  no  other  power  wiiatevcr. 

Art.  6.  The  Indiana  or  United  States  may  remove  and  puniHh  intruder! 
on  Indian  lands. 

Art.  7.    Indiana  may  hunt  within  ceded  lands. 

Art.  8.  Trade  shall  bo  opened  In  subntance,  as  by  provisions  in  treaty 
of  Fort  Ilarmer. 

Art.  0,  All  injuries  shall  be  referred  to  law;  not  privately  avenged ; 
and  all  hostile  plans  known  to  cither,  shall  bo  revealed  to  the  other  party 

Art.  10.    All  previous  treaties  annulled. 


This  treaty  was  nigiied  by  all  the  nations  named  in  the  fourth 
article,  and  dated  Anjfust  third,  1796.  It  was  ratified  by  the 
United  States  on  the  twenty-second  n'  tl  e  ioi lowing  December, 


246 


THK  LIVK8  OK   PONTIAO   AND  TKCUM8KII: 


and  thus  the  old  Indian  boundary  wars  of  tlie  west  were  put 
to  an  end. 

Wayne's  victory  having  broken  tlie  Indian  power,  and  the 
treaty  of  Greenville  binding  them  from  further  aggression 
the  Island  of  Mackinaw,  the  fort  of  Detroit  and  the  otiier 
posts  in  the  territory,  occupied  by  British  troops,  were  surreu- 
dered  by  the  English  to  their  proper  owners.* 

*  Tuttle's  History  of  MichiKaa. 


f/ 


CHAPTER    XXX. 


TiiK  Indians  Cede  their  Lands— Tkcumb eh  and  the  Prophet — 
The  New  Indian  Confederacy  — Its  Objects- C?okious  Speech 
OF  the  Prophet— The  Approaohino  War — The  Prophet  Db- 
ciiARBS  HIS  Innocence. 

From  1795  to  1804,  we  have  but  little  border  war  to  record. 
Settlements  in  the  west  progressed  rapidly,  and  in  the  latter 
year  events  took  place  leading  the  way  for  another  general 
Indian  war.  During  the  month  of  August,  1804,  a  series  of 
treaties  were  made  by  Governor  Harrison,  at  Vincennes,  by 
which  the  claims  of  several  Indian  tribes  to  large  tracts  of  land 
in  Indiana  and  Illinois  were  relinquished  to  the  United  States. 
The  Delawares  sold  their  claim  to  a  large  tract  between  the 
Wabash  and  Ohio  rivers,  and  Pionkeshaws  gave  up  their  title 
to  lands  granted  by  the  Kaskaskia  Indians  the  preceding  year. 
In  November  of  the  same  year.  Governor  Harrison  negotiated 
with  the  chiefs  of  the  united  nations  of  Sacs  and  Foxes  for 
their  claim  to  the  immense  tract  of  country  lying  between  the 
Mississippi,  Illinois,  Fox  river  of  Illinois,  and  Wisconsin  rivers, 
comprising  about  fifty  millions  of  acres.*  Tlie  consideration 
given  was  the  protection  of  the  United  States,  and  goods 
delivered  at  the  value  of  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  and  an  annuity  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  (six  hundred  dollars  to  the  Sacs  and  four  hundred  to 
the  Foxes)  forever.  An  article  in  this  treaty  provided,  that  as 
long  as  the  United  States  remained  the  owner  of  the  land,  "  the 
Indians  belonging  to  the  said  tribes  shall  enjoy  the  privilege 
of  living  and  hunting  "  on  the  land. 

On  the  fourth  of  July,  1805,  the  Wyandots  and  others  at 
Fort  Industry,  on  the  Maumee,  ceded  all  their  lands  as  far  west 


^ 

u 


Western  Annals. 


(247) 


248 


THK    MVK8   OF    PONTIAO    AND   TKCUMSRIi: 


as  the  western  bouiulary  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve,  and  on  the 
twenty-first  of  August,  of  the  same  year,  Governor  Harrison, 
at  Vincennes,  received  from  the  Mianiis  a  region  containing 
two  million  acres  within  what  is  now  the  state  of  Indiana,  and 
again,  upon  tlie  thirteenth  of  December,  at  the  same  place,  he 
purchased  of  the  Piankeshaws  a  tract  eighty  or  ninety  miles 
wide,  extending  from  the  Wabash  west  to  the  cession  by  the 
Kaskaskias,  which  was  made  in  1803. 

At  this  time,  excepting  an  occasional  murder,  the  Indians 
were  conducting  themselves  in  a  peaceful  manner.  "  But," 
says  Mr.  Peck,  "mischief  was  gathering."  Tecumseh  and  his 
brother,  the  prophet,  and  other  leading  men,  had  formed  A 
union  of  the  tribes  at  a  council  at  Greenville,  by  which  it  was 
intended  to  prevent  the  whites  from  making  further  settle- 
ments upon  their  lands.  It  appears  that  the  efforts  of  Tecnm- 
seh  and  his  brother  were  directed  to  accomplish  two  important 
ends:  First,  the  reformation  of  the  Tribes,  whose  habits  unfit- 
ted them  for  intelligent  effort;  and  second,  such  a  union  of  tlie 
tribes  as  would  make  the  purchase  of  their  lands  by  the  United 
States  impossible,  and  give  to  the  Indians  a  formidable  strength 
such  as  the  civilized  nations  would  be  compelled  to  respect. 
The  objects  were  openly  avowed  and  pursued  with  good  suc- 
cess. In  the  whole  country  bordering  on  the  lakes,  the  power 
of  the  Shawanoe  prophet  was  felt,  and  the  work  of  reforming 
the  Indians  from  habits  of  intoxication  and  civilization  went 
rapidly  forward.* 

It  appears  to  have  been  Tecumseh's  plan  to  effect  a  grand 
union  of  all  the  tribes  which  maintained  any  intercourse  with 
the  United  States,  and  admit  of  no  treaties  or  sales  of  lands 
without  the  united  consent  of  all  the  tribes.  Such  a  con- 
federation had  never  existed,  and  Tecumseh  fully  relied  uj)on 
the  success  of  the  plan.  He  was  well  educated,  could  read  and 
write,  and  had  a  confidential  secretary  and  adviser,  named 
Billy  Caldwell,  a  half-breed,  who  was  afterwards  head  chief  of 
the  Pottawatomies. 

Time  passed  on,  and  in  1806  the  conviction  become  stronger 
that  the  northwestern  tribes  were  preparing  for  war  against 

•  Drake's  Tecumseh — Peck's  Compilation. 


\'. 


TECUMSEH,  THE  SHAWANOE  CHIEFTAIN. 


OR,    THK   nORDKR    WARS   OF   TWO    CKNTURIK8. 


249 


the  United  States,  However,  nothitij^  of  conBequence  took 
place  (luring  this  year,  althougli  Tecumseh  and  the  prophet 
labored  on  diligently,  and  with  good  suocesB,  to  ac'complieh 
their  plans.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of  January,  1807,  Governor 
Hull,  of  Michigan  Territory,  liaving  been  autliorized  by  the 
federal  government  to  enter  into  a  treaty  with  the  Northwes- 
tern Indians  for  the  lands  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  peninsula 
and  for  those  west  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve,  as  far  as  the 
Auglaize,  a  council  was  held  in  Detroit,  and  a  treaty  made  in 
November  with  the  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  "Wyandots  and  Potta- 
watomies,  by  which  the  country  from  the  Maumee  to  Saginaw 
Bay,  on  the  eastern  side  of  Michigan,  was  transferred  to  the 
United  States. 

In  my  history  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  published  in  1873, 
we  tind  Tecumseh 's  plan  set  forth  in  these  words:  "Tliese  new 
troubles  were  indeed  nothing  more  than  the  Americans  might 
have  expected.  The  Indians  saw  a  new  power  encroaching 
upon  the  inheritance  that  had  been  handed  down  to  them  from 
their  ancestors.  It  was  not  difficult,  therefore,  to  unite  them 
in  one  last  desperate  effort  to  resist  this  usurping  power. 
Their  titles  had  been  only  partially  extinguished,  and  they 
complained  that  where  this  had  been  done  the  treaties  had 
been  unfairly  conducted;  that  the  Indians  had  been  deceived; 
that  they  were  in  a  state  of  intoxication  at  the  time  they 
signed  away  their  lands,  and  that  even  under  these  circum- 
stances, only  a  part  of  the  tribes  had  given  their  consent." 

It  is  believed  that  the  dissatisfaction  existing  among  the 
Indians  in  the  Northwest  was  increased  by  the  representation* 
of  England,  who  still  held  a  bad  feeling  towards  the  Americans, 
and  the  agents  of  the  Northwest  Fur  Company,  "  who  fore- 
saw that  if  the  Americans  were  permitted  to  occupy  this 
country  they  would  be  cut  off  from  a  valuable  portion  of  their 
trade.  The  American  pioneers  of  the  lake  region  had  no 
doubt  encroached  upon  the  rights  of  the  savages.  The  English 
took  advantage  of  these  circumstances  and  did  all  in  their 
power  to  rouse  the  natives  towards  this  war.  As  we  have 
seen,  the  prophet  had  already  commenced  his  mission.     He 


260 


TIIK    I.IVKH   OK    IHINTIAO    AND   TKdrMSRIi: 


did  all  tlmt  urtt'ul  HUperHtition  could  do  to  oxuito  the  trilxit 
into  H  war  ogaiiiHt  the  AmtM'icans. 

The  prineiploH  of  tho  luaguo,  wi^^h  a  few  exceptions,  were 
similar  to  thono  of  that  grand  confederacy,  which  wait,  nm  we 
have  observed  in  tho  Hrst  part  of  this  narrative,  formed  hy 
Pontiac.  Tec'uniHeh'8  plan  was  to  surprise  and  capture  Forts 
Detroit,  Wayne,  Chicrago,  St.  Louis,  Vincennes  and  the  atljacent 
American  posts,  and  to  unite  all  tho  tribes  east  of  tlte  MisbIs- 
sippi.  As  early  as  1807  the  Shawanoe  chieftain  and  his  brother 
were  actively  engaged  in  sending  their  deputies,  with  large 
presents  and  bloody  war  belts,  to  tho  most  distant  nations,  to 
persuade  thein  to  come  into  the  league,  "  and  when  the  comet 
appeared  in  1811,  the  prophet  artfully  turned  it  to  account  by 
practicing  on  the  superstitions  of  the  savages."  Early  in 
May,  a  special  emissary  was  sent  to  the  distant  tribes  of  Lake 
Superior,  and  a  grand  council  being  there  assembled  by  the 
deputy,  "  he  told  the  Indians  that  he  had  been  pent  by  the 
messenger  and  representative  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  that  he 
was  commissioned  to  deliver  to  them  a  speech  from  the  first 
man  whom  God  had  created,  said  to  be  in  the  Shawanocs 
country."  He  delivered  the  speech  with  which  he  was  charged 
in  these  words:  "  I  am  the  father  of  the  English,  and  of  the 
French,  and  of  the  Spaniards,  and  of  the  Indians.  I  created 
the  first  man,  who  was  the  common  father  of  all  these  people, 
as  well  as  of  ourselves,  and  it  is  through  him,  whom  I  have 
awakened  from  his  long  sleep,  that  I  now  address  you.  But 
the  Americans  i  did  not  make.  They  are  not  my  children, 
but  the  children  of  the  evil  spirit.  They  grew  from  the  scum 
of  the  great  water  when  it  was  troubled  by  the  evil  spirit  and 
the  froth  was  driven  into  tho  woods  by  a  strong  east  wind. 
But  I  hate  them.  My  children,  you  must  not  speak  of  this 
talk  to  the  whites;  it  must  be  hidden  from  them.  I  am  now 
on  the  earth  sent  by  the  Great  Spirit  to  instruct  you  that  you 
may  be  taught.  The  bearer  of  this  must  point  out  to  you  the 
way  to  my  wigwam.  I  could  not  come  myself,  L'Arbre  Croclie, 
because  this  world  is  changed  from  what  it  was.  It  is  broken 
and  leans  down,  and  as  it  declines  the  Chippewas  and  all 
beyond  will  fall  off  and  die.    Therefore,  you  must  come  to  me 


OK,   TIIK   UOKDKK   WAHH  OF  TWO  OKMTUKIKH. 


251 


ami  bo  iiiHtructud.     TItotie  vilhigoH  which  do  not  liHton  to  thin 
talk  will  \m  cut  ott'  from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

Such  were  the  ineuHuruB  adopted  by  the  artful  propliet  to 
induce  the  Havages  to  fall  Into  the  rankti  of  Tccuniseh^H  army, 
and  they  were  in  every  rcHpect  succcuHful.  ThuH  did  the  cun- 
ning Shawanoe  chief  carry  his  work  forward.  Before  the  month 
of  Juno,  1806,  they  had  removed  from  Greenville  to  the  banks 
of  the  Tippecanoe,  a  tributary  of  the  up))er  Wabash,  where  a 
tract  of  land  had  been  granted  them  by  the  FottawatomicH  and 
Kickapoos.  In  the  following  July  the  prophet  sent  a  mes- 
senger to  Gen.  HarriHon,  begging  him  not  to  believe  t!ie  tale 
told  by  his  enemies  and  promising  to  visit  him  soon.  In 
August  he  repaired  to  Post  Yincennes,  and  by  his  line  talk 
convinced  the  governor  that  lie  had  no  evil  designs. 

Mr.  Brown,  in  speaking  of  Chief  Tecumseh  and  his  brother, 
the  prophet,  in  his  History  of  Illinois,  says :  "  Tecumseh 
entered  upon  the  great  work  he  long  contemplated  in  the  year 
1805  or  1806.  He  was  then  about  thirty-eight  years  of  age. 
To  unite  the  several  Indian  tribes,  many  of  which  were  hostile 
to,  and  had  often  been  at  war  with  each  other,  in  this  great  and 
important  undertaking,  prejudices  were  to  be  overcome,  their 
original  manners  and  customs  to  be  re-established,  the  use  of 
ardent  spirits  to  be  abandoned,  and  all  intercourse  with  the 
whites  to  be  suspended.  Tlie  task  was  herculean  in  its  char- 
acter and  beset  with  difficulties  on  every  side.  Here  was  a 
Held  for  the  display  of  the  highest  moral  and  intellectual  powers. 
He  had  already  gained  the  reputation  of  a  brave  and  sagacioui 
warrior,  and  a  cool-headed,  upright,  wise  and  efficient  coun- 
sellor. He  was  neither  a  war  nor  a  peace  chief,  and  yet  he 
wielded  the  power  and  influence  of  both.  The  time  having 
now  arrived  for  action,  and  knowing  full  well  that  to  win 
savage  attention  some  bold  and  striking  movement  was  neces- 
sary, he  imparted  his  plan  to  his  brother,  the  prophet,  who 
adroitly  and  without  a  moment's  delay,  prepared  himself  for 
the  part  he  was  appointed  to  play  in  this  great  drama  of  sav- 
age life.  Tecumseh  well  knew  that  excessive  superstition  was 
everywhere  a  prominent  trait  in  the  Indian  character,  and, 
therefore,  with  the  skill  of  another  Cromwell,  brought  supersti- 


253 


THK  r.rviw  or  imntiao  and  twumhkii: 


tion  to  hJH  nid.  Sud(]enly,  his  brother  l)t>gan  to  drLMun  dreams 
and  Bee  vigions ;  he  becnine  atterward  an  inspired  prophet, 
favored  with  a  divine  conunission  from  the  (ireat  Spirit — the 
power  of  life  and  death  was  placed  in  his  handH  —  )io  whh 
appointed  agent  for  preserving  tlio  pro{)erty  and  Innds  of  tho 
Indians,  and  for  restoring  them  to  their  original  happy  con. 
dition.  He  thereupon  commenced  his  sacred  work.  The  public 
mind  was  aroused,  unbelief  gradually  gave  way,  credulity  and 
wild  fanaticism  began  to  spread  its  circles,  widening  and  deep- 
ening, until  the  fame  of  the  prophet  and  the  divine  character 
of  his  mission  had  reached  the  frozen  shores  of  the  lakes  and 
overran  the  broad  planis  which  stretched  far  beyond  *  the  great 
Father  of  Waters.'  Pilgrims  from  remote  tribes  sought  with 
fear  and  trembling  the  headquarters  of  the  prophet  and  tlic 
sage.  Proselytes  were  multiplied  and  his  followers  increased 
beyond  all  former  example.  Even  Tecumseh  became  a  believer, 
and  seizing  upon  the  golden  opportunity,  he  mingled  with  the 
pilgrims,  won  them  by  his  address,  and  on  their  return  sent  a 
knowledge  of  his  plan  of  concert  and  union  to  the  most  dis- 
tant  tribes.  The  bodily  and  mental  labors  of  Tecumseh  next 
commenced.  His  life  became  one  of  ceaseless  activity.  He 
traveled,  he  argued,  he  commanded.  His  persuasive  voice  was 
one  day  listened  to  by  the  Wyandots,  on  the  plains  of  San* 
dusky;  on  the  next  his  commands  were  issued  on  the  banks  of 
the  Wabash.  He  was  anon  seen  pad  img  his  canoe  across  the 
Mississippi,  then  boldly  confronting  the  Governor  of  Indiana 
in  the  council  house  at  Vincennes.  Now  carrying  his  banner 
of  union  among  the  Creeks  and  Gherokees  of  the  south,  and 
from  thence  to  the  cold  and  inhospitable  regions  of  the  north, 
neither  intoxicated  by  success  nor  discouraged  by  failure." 

It  is  not  my  purpose,  in  this  narrative,  to  explain  any  of 
those  international  disputes  which  led  to  the  war  of  1812.  We 
have  only  to  deal  with  those  events  which  induced  the  Indians 
to  join  in  that  war  against  the  Americans,  and  of  these  the 
reader  has  already  observed  many. 


CHAPTER    XXXi. 


Tkcumhkii  and  tuk  I*noi>iiKT  Umitimo  thr  Havaobi  for  Wah  — 
Tkuuiu.r  im  tuk  Councii,  at  Vinuknnrs  — Uovbrnor  Uahhiion 
Dknounckh  Tkcuhbkh  and  Orukkb  IIim  to  Lkavb  TUt:  Villaqb 

— ThK  BaTTLK  ok  TiPPKCAMOK  — IIaHHIHON'B  VlOTOIlY. 

TiiKouoHOLT  the  year  1800,  we  find  TeciuiiBeh  and  the 
prophet  preparing  theinselvea  for  the  contest  that  w>w  approach- 
ing. Governor  Harrison  again  suspected  that  tlie  Indians 
were  preparing  for  another  war,  and  he  wrote  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  tu  that  eiSect,  giving,  also,  his  views  of  the 
defenses  of  the  frontier,  and  the  course  proper  to  be  pursued 
in  case  of  a  war  with  England. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1809,  the  Governor  of  Indiana 
inftde  several  treaties  with  the  Dehiwares,  Pottawatoniies, 
Miuinis,  Eel  liiver  Indians,  Weas  and  Kickapoos,  in  which  these 
nations  ceded  certain  lands  upon  the  Wabash,  but  against  all  of 
these  Tecuniseh  entered  a  bitter  protest  in  the  following  year,  and 
now  it  was  plain  to  Governor  Harrison  that  the  Shawanoe 
chieftain  had  formed  a  determination  to  unite  all  the  Western 
tribes  in  hostility  to  the  United  States,  unless  the  government 
of  the  latter  should  consent  to  relinquish  all  the  lands  bought 
at  the  treaties  of  Fort  Wayne,  and,  for  the  future,  recognize 
the  principle  that  no  purchases  could  be  made  unless  from  a 
council  representing  all  the  tribes  united  as  one  nation.  By 
various  acts,  the  feelings  of  Tecumseh  became  evident,  and  in 
August,  1810,  he  met  Governor  Harrison  in  council  at  Vin- 
cennes.  The  Governor  had  made  arrangements  for  holding 
the  council  on  the  portico  of  his  own  house,  which  had  been 
fitted  up  with  seats  for  the  occasion.  Here,  on  the  morning 
of  the  fifteenth  of  August,  he  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  chief, 
being  attended  by  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  some 

(268) 


2A4 


TIIK    I.IV|.>»  OF    l-ONHAO    ANU  TUCrMKKIi: 


ofHtriTH  of  tlu)  urmy,  ii  Ht>r^«'uiit  iind  twolvr  mrn  from  I'ort 
Knox,  aiul  u  liir^o  niiiiiWur  of  citi»>nM.  At  tlioHppointtxl  tiitiu 
TcuiiiMHoli  nrrived,  f()IlowiM|  by  forty  of  Iuh  |)rin<i|>al  wiirrioix, 
thu  othnrrt  rcMiiiiining  ontHido  of  the  villiigc.  Whon  tliv  cliict' 
haci  approHchcd  within  thirty  or  forty  yardii  of  thc«  hoiiM>,  Ii«> 
Muddunly  Mtop^Mxl,  hh  if  awnitin^^  Mottto  further  invitation  from 
the  Governor.  An  intorprutur  waM  nent  out  to  toll  him  to  take 
8entH  on  the  |)ortico.  To  thia  TocumHch  olijueted.  Undid  iidt 
think,  ho  Huid,  thut  tho  place  waH  Huitahie  for  luddin^  a  (touticil, 
but  proferro<l  that  they  should  «!|  lir  to  a  noif^hlturin^  j^rovo. 
Tlie  GoYornor  «aid  ho  had  no  objection  to  the  fjrove,  except  that 
there  were  no  Heatn  in  it  for  their  accominodution.  Tcc«nii8cli 
replied  that  that  coiiHtituted  no  objection  to  the  ^rovc,  "the 
earth  being  the  most  Huitablo  place  for  the  Indians,  wiio  lovtsl 
to  repose  upon  the  bosom  of  their  mother."  Governor  Fliirrj. 
Bon  consented  to  remove  to  the  ^rove,  where  tho  chiefs  were 
soon  seated  in  order  on  tlie  grass. 

The  council  was  opened  l)y  Tecumseh,  who  stated  at  length 
his  objections  to  the  treaty  of  Fort  Wayne,  made  by  Governor 
Harrison  in  the  previous  year;  and  in  the  course  of  his  spcecli, 
Injldly  avowed  the  principles  of  his  party  to  be,  tliat  of  reHJst- 
ance  to  every  (•ession  of  land,  unless  made  by  all  the  trilten, 
who,  he  contended,  formed  but  one  nation.  Fie  admitted  that 
he  had  threatened  to  kill  the  (fhiefs  who  signed  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Wayne;  and  that  it  was  his  fixed  determination  not  to 
permit  the  village  chiefs,  in  future,  to  numage  their  affairs,  Itiit 
to  place  the  power  with  which  they  had  been  heretofore  iiive8t«l, 
in  the  hands  of  the  war  chiefs.  The  Americans,  he  said,  hud 
driven  the  Indians  from  the  sea  coast,  and  would  soon  push 
them  into  the  lakes;  and,  while  he  disclaimed  all  intention  of 
making  war  upon  the  United  States,  he  declared  it  to  be  his 
unalterable  resolution  to  take  a  stand,  and  resolutely  oppose 
the  further  intrusion  of  the  whites  upon  the  Indian  huuis. 
He  concluded,  by  making  a  brief  but  impassioned  recital  of 
the  various  wrongs  and  aggressions  inflicted  by  the  white  men 
upon  the  Indians,  from  the  commencement  of  the  revolution- 
ary war  down  to  the  period  of  that  council;  all  of  which  was 


OK,   TIIK    lli)KI>KK    WAIW  it¥  tWO  TKNTl  KIM. 


255 


calotiluted  to  Arouitfl  nnd  iiiHiuiiu  thu  iiiiiulM  of  MUch  of  his  fuU 
IdWiTH  iM»  were  pir^riit.* 

(fDVcriior  llurritioii  t'i;|>liod,  tind  tlio  interpreter  at  oticu  hvffMi 
ex|iliiiiiinK  tiiOHfMictdi  to  tito  Blmwiinoo  chit^tlnin,  wti(»,  iMicoinin^ 
iitt'oixled  lit  lome  portion  of  it,  spriuif;^  to  liis  fuct,  interrupting 
tlio  intorprotor,  nnd  b«gan  to  Kpeiik  witli  gruat  forco.      Tlit^ 
f^ovortior  wiM  completely  antonislie'l  at  this  proceeding,  hut 
ax  hi<  did  not  understand  him,  thought  he  waH  making  some 
(>x|)l>iiiiition,  an<l  Huflforud  hiu  attentioit  to  be  (iruwn  towanls 
Wituiemac,  a  friendly  Indian  lying  on  the  grurts  iK^t'ore  him, 
wIk"  wurt  renewing  the  priming  i>t'  his  pistol,  which  he  had  kept 
cotK-ealod  from  the  other  Indians,  but  in  full  view  of  the  gov- 
enior.     Ilit4  attention,  however,  was  again   directed  towards 
Ttruiiiseh,  by  hearing  (ienenil  Gibson,  who  was  intimately 
iK!i|iiiunti!d  with  the  Shawanoe  language,  say  to  liieut.  .lennings, 
"tlittrie  fellows  intend  mischief;  you   had  better  l)ring  up  the 
jrimrd."    At  that  moment  the  followern  of  Tecumseh  soi/ed 
their  tunuduiwks  and  war  clubM,  and  sprang  upon  their  feet, 
tluir  eyes  turned»upon  the  governor.     As  soon  as  he  could  dis< 
I'li^'iige  hiruKelf  from  the  arm  chair  in  which  he  sat,  he  rose, 
drew  a  small  sword  which  he  had  by  his  side,  and  stood  on  the 
ild'oiisive.     (/apt.  G.  R.   Floyd,  of  the  army,  who  stood  near 
liim,  drew  a  <lirk,  and  the  chief,  Winnemac,  cocked  his  pistol. 
The  citizens  present  were  more  numerous  than  the  Indians,  but 
were  unarmed;  some  of  them  procured  clubs  and  brick-bats, 
and  idso  stood  on  the  defensive.     The  Ilev.  Mr.  Winans,  of  the 
Metliudirtt  t'hi..;di,  ran  to  the  governor's  house,  got  a  gun,  and 
|)0Hted  himself  at  the  door  to  defend  the  family.     During  this 
frightful   scene,  no  one  spoke,  until  the  guard  came  running 
up.  and  a])peared  to  be   in  the  act  of  iiring.     The  governor 
fjave  orders  for  them  to  halt,  and  then  demanded  of  the  inter- 
preter an  explanation  of  what  had  happened.     He  replied  tliat 
Tecumseh  had  interrupted  him,  declaring  that  all  the  governor 
had  said  was  false;  and  that  he  and  the  Seventeen  Fires  had 
cheated  and  imposed  on  the  Indians. 

The  governor  then  declared  that  Tecumseli  was  a  bad  man, 
and  ordered  hifti  to  leave  the  village  at  once,  which,  of  course, 


•  American  Sttito  Papers. 


9M 


THR   UVm  or    l^>NTIAn    ANII  TKOUMRKIf  i 


tiTiiiiiinttNl  the  ctiiiiieil,  I,  wuM  iiuw  uviUunt  tlmt  tliv  itnvn^i<« 
witrc  iHMit  oti  witr,  iiiul  iliirriitoii  Utgiiii  t«»  atrun^thun  IiIh  jHtiti. 
tioii,  in  ux|K)(!tHtioii  of  it.  Ilu  mooii  ruuuivcd  raiiit'(>rn>iiii>ritit 
aii<l  iimntiitxl  to  tliu  Wuhuidi,  whtirt*,  ulhiKt  itixty  MiilcM  iiUtvc 
Vincviinuit,  hit  built  '*  Fort  ilurrinoii.'*  At  tliitt  pliu!t>  oiii>  of' 
liiM  HuiitiiiuU  wuM  tired  iipuii,  uiid  iidwm  rit;uivu<l  which  pliiitily 
iiidicntvd  thttt  thu  Iiidiuui)  wuru  prupuriiifi^  tor  battlu.  The 
governor  then  doturininetl  to  niovti  diri'Ctly  iifMtn  Ti|>|MH'un(M>— 
TeeuinH(th*it  huiid*)UurturH — und  u\yoi\  the  thirty  Hritt  otOotukt, 
he  arrived  near  the  mouth  of  the  Vermilion  Uiver,  wliMrv  he 
built  n  blookh<»u«e  for  the  proteetion  of  liiM  IxMitM,  and  h  pliu;e 
of  dupoiiit  for  luH  lieuv}'  buggu^e.  From  thiHpituto  he  niiircliHl 
directly  into  the  prophet'rt  town,  where  he  wha  met  by  uinlmrt- 
ladorH;  he  told  them  he  had  no  hoHtileintentiotiM,  provided  thu 
IndiunH  were  true  to  existing  treutieH,  and  made  prepuratiuiiB 
to  encamp.* 

The  8p«>t  whore  the  troopn  encaniped  wa**  not  altii^^ther  what 
could  have  been  v/iHhed,  m  it  afforded  ^reat  facility  to  the 
approach  of  Hava^eH.  It  watt  a  piece  of  dry  oak  land,  mu\\i 
ab«Mit  ten  feet  above  the  level  of  a  mariihy  prairie  in  front 
(towards  the  Indian  town)  and  nearly  twice  that  height  ubuve 
a  uitnilar  prairie  in  Mie  rear,  through  which  and  near  to  thi« 
bank,  ran  a  bmall  stream  clothed  with  willowH  and  bnirihwotxi. 
Towardri  the  left  flank  this  bench  of  hi^^h  land  widened  cdii- 
Bidtu'ably,  but  became  gradually  mirrow  in  the  oppoHite  direction, 
and  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the 
right  flank,  terminated  in  an  abrupt  point.  The  two  columns 
of  infantry  occupied  the  fritnt  and  rear  of  thirt  ground,  at  the  diii- 
tance  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  each  other  uii  the 
left,  and  something  more  than  half  that  distance  on  the  right 
flank — these  flai»ks  were  tilled  up,  the  first  by  two  companies 
of  mounted  riflemen,  amounting  to  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  under  the  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  Wells,  of  the 
Kentucky  militia,  who  servwl  as  a  Major;  the  other  by  S{)eu- 
cer's  company  of  mounted  riflemen,  which  amounted  to  eightv 
men.     The  front  line  was  compobed  of  one  battalion  of  United 

*  Dhwsou'h  HiHtorical  Narrutive.     American  State  Papers.     Western 
Annals. 


OK,  THK  litiKiivH  VfAH»  or   rw«4  riKMriiKfss. 


2ft7 


8ut«i  Intimtry,  uiulor  the  w*»\inab(l  of  H\^or  V\i^yA,  llaiiki'*! 
on  till)  rif^lit  liy  two  coiii|mkileii  of  rinlMis,  md  on  tlio  lui't  l>}r 
oni>  (*t>iii|Miiiy.  Tilt)  ruiir  lliiu  whm  (^'vniyiM^J  't  a  Ixittulitiii  ot 
(IiiitiNTHtHU^H  truopN  iiiidor  tliucHwaixMi')  ofCiipt.  n«>iui,  urtin^ 
M  Major,  Hiul  tour  coin|miiioB  of  >v^\^  ;ia  iiitUiitry  iimU'r  I.ittut,- 
Col.  l)t)okur.  The  rt«gular  lh>of^«  of  tliiu  linu  juiruM)  the 
mt)iint»'<l  rinuinoii  umlor  (IcnorHl  Wells,  on  tliu  U^lt  Hank,  ttiid 
Col.  DuckorV  Imttiilion  tbriiiixl  an  nnglo  with  H|>« '  > .  t  .4  tmtn- 
pAiiy  on  tho  lotl.  Two  troopit  of  drngooiiH,  HtiitMinting,  in  thu 
a^f^ir^iito,  to  ulnnit  Hixty  mon,  wuro  uncuni|H)<l  in  tho  mir 
ol  till)  left  tiiiiik.  nnd  Oiipt.  PiirkoV  troop,  which  wuh  liii-gt)r 
than  tlio  otliur  two,  in  tho  ruar  of  the  front  line. 

For  a  flight  attack  tho  order  of  uncanipinent  was  the  order 
of  battle,  and  each  man  Hl<;pt  itnniodiately  opiH)8ite  to  hiit 
poHt  in  the  line.  In  the  formation  of  the  troopH,  Hingle  tile  t)r 
Indian  tile  wan  adopted,  for  the  reanon  that  in  Indiiiii  warfare 
tlivro  h  hut  little  8lioek  to  reuiHt,  one  rank  heiiifj^  ({uite  m 
vtlW'tivo  aH  two;  and,  again,  tho  oxtension  of  tho  linoH  it)  of 
^rvat  itnportanee. 

At  tluB  place  thoy  remained  until  tho  seventh  of  Novetnhor, 
when  aliout  four  o'clock  in  tho  morning,  juHt  after  the  governor 
liiid  risen,  tho  loft  Hank  was  attacked  hy  the  enemy.  Hut  a 
signal  gun  was  tired  by  tho  HontinoU  or  by  the  gmird  in  that 
direction,  which  made  no  roHiHtancc,  abandoning  their  |)o»(t8 
and  fleeing  into  camp;  and  the  fir^t  notice  which  the  troopM  of 
tlmt  tlank  had  of  the  danger,  was  from  tho  yells  of  the  niivages 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  line.  But  even  under  these 
circumstances,  tho  men  wore  not  wanting  in  courage  and  dis- 
cipline. Such  of  them  as  were  awako,  or  were  easily  awakened, 
seized  their  arms  and  took  their  stations;  others  whicli  were 
more  tardy,  had  to  contend  with  the  enemy  in  the  doors  of 
their  tents.  Tho  storm  tirst  fell  upon  Capt.  Jiarton's  company 
of  the  fourth  United  States  regiment,  and  Capt.  Geiger's  com- 
pany of  mounted  riflemen,  which  forme<l  the  h^ft  angle  of  the 
rear  line.  The  tiro  from  the  Indians  was  exceedingly  severe,  and 
men  in  these  companies  sulfered  considerably  before  relief 
could  be  brought  to  them.  Some  few  Indians  passed  into  the 
encampment  near  the  angle,  and  one  or  two  penetrated  to 
17 


258 


INK    I.IVKS    i)|.     I'oNTIAt;    AND    ITOUTMHKH: 


8(ime  distiince  lu'tore   they  were  kilknl.     All  tlu)  other  coinpa- 
iiit's  were  formed  for  aetioii  Welbre  they  were  tired  on. 

The  morning  was  durlc  and  cloudy  and  tlie  tires  of  the 
Americans  att'orded  only  a  partial  liglit,  which  gave  greater 
advantage  to  the  enemy  tlian  to  the  troops,  and  tiiey  were 
therefore  extinguirthed.  As  soon  as  the  governor  could  mount 
liiH  horse  he  rode  to  the  angle  that  was  attacked,  where  he 
found  that  Barton's  company  had  sutfered  severely  and  the  left 
of  (leiger's  entirely  broken.  He  innnediately  ordered  Cook's 
and  Wentworth's  companies  to  march  up  to  the  centre  of  the 
rear  line  and  form  across  the  angle  in  support.  His  attention 
was  then  attriiete<J  by  a  heavy  tire  upon  the  left  of  the  front 
line,  where  wei'e  stationed  tlie  small  (rompany  of  United  States 
riflemen  and  the  companies  of  Bean,  Snelling  and  Prescott. 
As  the  (ireneral  rode  up  ho  found  Major  Daviess  forming  the 
dragoons  in  the  rear  of  those  companies,  and  having  ascer- 
tained that  the  heaviest  tire  proceeded  from  some  trees  abont 
fifteen  or  twenty  paces  in  front  of  those  companies,  he  directed 
the  Major  to  dislodge  them  with  a  part  of  the  dragoons.  Tn- 
fortunately  the  Major's  gallantry  caused  him  to  undertake  the 
execution  of  the  order  with  a  smaller  force  than  was  required, 
which  enabled  the  enemy  to  avoid  him  in  front  and  attack  his 
flanks.  The  Major  was  mortally  wounded  PTid  the  party  driven 
back. 

The  Indians  were,  however,  immediately  and  gallantly  dis- 
lodged  from  their  advantageous  position  by  Capt.  Snelling,  at 
the  head  of  his  company.  In  the  course  of  a  few  minutes 
after  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  the  fire  extended  along 
the  left  flank,  the  whole  of  the  front,  the  right  flank  and  part 
of  the  rear  line.  Upon  Spencer's  moimted  riflemen  and  the 
right  of  Warwick's  company,  which  was  posted  on  the  right 
of  the  rear  line,  it  was  excessively  severe.  ( 'apt.  Spencer  and 
his  first  and  second  lieutenants  were  killed, mnd  Capt.  Warwick 
was  mortally  wounded,  those  companies,  however,  still  bravely 
maintained  their  posts,  but  Spencer  had  sufTered  so  severely, 
and  having  originally  too  much  ground  to  occupy,  Harrison 
reinforced  them  with  Robb's  company  of  riflemen,  which  had 
been  driven,  or  by  mistake  ordered  from  their  position  on  the 


OR,    THK    BORDER    WARS   <»K    TWO   OKNTURIES. 


259 


left  flank,  towards  the  centre  of  tliH  narap,  and  filled  the  vacancy 
that  had  been  occupied  by  Kobb  -.vith  Fresco tt's  company  of 
tlie  Fourth  United  States  regiment.    The  General's  great  object 
was  to  keep  the  lines  entire,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  break- 
ing into  the  camp  until  daylight,  which  should  enable  him  to 
make  a  general  and  effectual  charge.     With  this  view  he  had 
reinforced  every  part  of  the  line  that  had  suffered  much,  and 
with  the  approach  of  morning  he  withdrew  from  the  front  line 
Snelling's,  Posey's  and  Scott's,  and  from  the  rear  line  Wilson's 
companies,  and  drew  them  up  upon  the  left  flank,  and  at  the 
same  time  ordered  Cook's  and  Bean's  companies,  the  former 
from  the  rear,  and  the  latter  from  the  front  line,  to  reinforce 
the  rir^^'t  flank,  forseeing  that  at  these  points  the  enemy  would 
make  their  last  efforts.     Major  Wells,  who  commanded  on  the 
left  flank,  took  command  of  these  companies  and  charged  upon 
the  enemy,  driving  them  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  into  tho 
marsh,  where  they  could  not  be  followed.     Meanwhile  Capt. 
Cook  and  Lieut.  Barabee  marched  their  companies  to  the  right 
dank  and  formed  them  under  the  tire  of  the  enemy,  and  being 
then  joined  by  the  riflemen  of  that  flank,  charged  the  enemy, 
killing  a  number  of  Indians  and  putting  the  rest  to  a  precipi- 
tate flight.'* 
In  this  battle  Gen.  Harrison  commanded  only  about  seven 

hundred  efficient  men,  while  the  Indians  numbered  nearly  one 
thousand  warriors.  The  loss  of  the  American  army  was  thirty- 
seven  killed  on  the  field,  twenty-five  mortally  wounded  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty-six  wounded;  that  of  the  Indians 
about  forty  killed  on  the  spot,  the  number  of  wounded  being 
unknown.  The  battle  of  Tippecanoe  was  fought  on  the  seventh 
of  November,  1811.  It  was  a  decisive  victory  for  tho  United 
States,  and  for  some  time  after  the  frontiers  enjoyed  peace. 


American  State  Papers. 


^ 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

Tkcumseh's  Anobr — Hk  Joins  tub  Bkitish  — Hui-ii's  Inoi,ouioin 
Campaign  —  Surrkndbk  of  Dktkoit  —  Suukkndek  op  Mackinac— 
Tridmi'hs  of  the  Ukitibii  —  Hull's  Incapacity. 

WniLK  the  propliet  was  leading  the  confederated  warriors 
to  battle  against  Harrison's  army  near  Tippecanoe,  Tecumseh 
was  absent  among  the  Soutliern  Indians  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  them  into  the  confederacy.  On  his  return  a  fewdajs 
after  Harrison's  victory,  he  found,  to  his  great  dissatisfaction, 
tliat  many  of  liis  followers  had  dispersed ;  that  his  brother  had 
disgraced  himself  by  his  imprudence,  and  that  liis  best  hopes 
were  destroyed.  He  was  very  angry  at  his  l)rother,  seized  him 
by  the  hair,  shook  him  violently  and  threatened  to  take  hi,- 
life.  By  his  imprudencQ  in  attacking  the  Ajnerican  army  ar 
Tippecanoe  the  prophet  had  destroyed  his  own  power  and 
ruined  the  projected  confederacy. 

Tecumseh  immediatel      3iit  word  to  Gov.  Harrison  that  he 

« 

ha<l  returned  from  the  south,  and  that  he  was  ready  to  visit 
the  President  as  had  been  previously  proposed.  The  Governor 
gave  him  permission  to  proceed  to  Washington,  but  not  as  the 
leader  of  a  party  of  Indians,  as  he  desired.  The  proud  ('hief, 
who  had  appeared  at  Vincennes  in  1810  with  a  large  ])artj  of 
braves,  had  no  desire  to  appear  before  his  "Great  Father,"  the 
President,  without  his  retinue.  The  proposed  visit  was  de- 
clined and  tlie  intercourse  between  Tecumseh  and  the  Governor 
terminated,  fn  June,  he  sought  an  interview  with  the  Indian 
agent  at  Fort  Wayne,  disavowed  any  intention  of  making  war 
on  the  United  States,  and  reproached  Gen.  Plarrison  for  having 
marched  against  his  ])eople  during  his  absence.  The  agent 
rejilied  to  ♦ihis;  Tecumseh  listened  with  frigid  indifference,  and 
after  making  a  few  general  remarks  with  a  haughty  air,  left 

(360) 


OB,    THK   liORDKR    WARS   OF   TWO   CENTURIES. 


261 


the  council  house  and  departed  for  Fort  Maiden,  in  Upper 
Canada,  where  he  joined  the  British  &tandard.^ 

During  the  winter  of  1811-12  wo  find  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  discussing  the  subject  of  war  with  Great  Britain. 
The  reader  is  probably  familiar  with  the  causes  which  led  to 
tliis.  Even  as  early  as  December,  1811,  a  proposition  was 
openly  made  to  invade  Canada  in  the  following  spring,  before 
the  ice  broke  up,  and  in  particular  was  urged  the  necessity  of 
fiueh  operations  at  the  outset  of  the  anticipated  contest  as 
should  wrest  from  the  enemy  the  command  of  the  upper  lakes 
and  secure  the  neutrality  or  favor  of  the  Indian  tribes  by  the 
conquest  of  Upper  Canada. 

Measures  were  also  taken  for  the  defense  of  the  Northwest 
frontier  against  Indian  hostility,  and  which,  in  the  event  of  a 
ru|)ture  with  Great  Britain,  would  ennble  the  United  States  to 
obtain  command  of  Lake  Erie.  These  steps  were,  however, 
bv  no  means  suitable  to  the  attainment  of  this  object.  In 
place  of  a  naval  force  on  Lake  Erie,  the  importance  of  which 
had  been  frequently  urged,  the  government  proposed  to  use 
no  other  military  means,  and  hoped,  by  the  presence  of  two 
thousand  soldiers,  to  eft'ect  the  capture  or  destruction  of  the 
Britisli  Heet.  When,  therefore.  Gen.  Hull,  to  whom  the  com- 
mand of  the  army  destined  for  the  conquest  of  Canada  had 
been  confided,  commenced  his  march  from  Dayton,  on  the  first 
of  -Fune,  it  was  with  means  which  he  himself  regarded  as 
utterly  inadequate  to  the  object  aimed  at,  a  fact  which  suffi- 
ciently explains  his  vascillating,  nerveless  conduct.  Through 
that  whole  month,  he  and  his  troops  toiled  on  toward  the 
Maiunee,  busy  with  their  roads,  bridges  and  block-houses.  On 
the  twenty-fourth,  advices  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  on 
the  eighteenth,  came  to  hand,  but  not  a  word  contained  in 
them  made  it  probable  that  the  long  expected  war  would  be 
immediately  declared,  although  Col.  McArtLur  at  the  same 
time  received  word  from  Chillicothe  warning  him,  on  the 
authority  of  Thomas  Worthington,  then  Senator  from  Ohio, 
that  before  the  letter  reached  him,  the  declaration  would  have 
been  made  public.     This  information  McArthur  laid  before 

*  Brown's  History  of  Illinois. 


262 


TlIK   LIVKH   OK    Ft»NTIA()    AND  TMUIMHKH  : 


Gen.  Hull;  and  when,  upon  reaching  the  Mauniee,  that  com- 
mander propoHed  to  place  his  haggago,  stores  and  sick  on  ))oar(l 
a  vessel,  and  send  them  by  water  to  Detroit,  the  baukwoodsniaii 
warned  him  of  the  danger,  and  reiused  to  trust  his  own 
property  on  board.  Hull,  however,  treated  the  report  of  war 
08  the  old  story  which  hi.J  been  current  through  all  the  spring, 
and  refused  to  believe  it  possible  that  the  government  would 
not  give  him  information  at  the  earliest  moment  that  the 
measure  was  resolved  on.  He,  accordingly,  on  the  first  of  July, 
embarked  his  disabled  men  and  most  of  his  goods  on  board 
the  Cuyahoga  packet,  suffering  his  aid-de-camp  in  his  careless- 
ness to  send  by  her  even  his  instructions  and  army-roll,  and 
then  proceeded  upon  his  way.  The  next  day,  July  second, 
a  letter  of  the  same  date  of  that  recei  ved  upon  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  June,  reached  him  with  the  intelligence  that  war 
had  that  day  been  declared.  Before  his  astonishment  was 
over,  word  was  brought  of  the  ca])ture  of  his  packet  oft*  Maiden, 
with  all  his  official  papers.  The  latter  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  foe,  and  thus  informed  thenti  of  his  purposes  and  his 
strength.  However  no  effort  was  made  by  the  British  to 
prevent  the  Americans  from  marching  to  Detroit,  nor  to  inter- 
fere with  their  passage  across  the  river  to  Sandwich,  where 
they  established  themselves  on  the  twelfth  of  July,  preparatory 
to  attacking  Maiden  itself.  "  And  here,  at  once,"  says  Mr. 
Peck,  in  the  Western  Annals,  "  the  incapacity  of  Hull  showed 
itself.  By  his  own  confession  he  took  every  step  under  the 
influence  of  two  sets  of  fears;  he  dared  not,  on  the  one  hand, 
act  boldly  for  fear  that  his  incompeteni  force  would  be  all 
destroyed;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  dared  not  refuse  to 
act  for  fear  his  militia,  already  uneasy,  would  desert  him." 
Tlius  embarrassed,  he  proclaimed  freedom  to  the  Americans, 
holding  out  inducements  to  the  British  militia  to  desert,  and 
to  the  Indians  to  keep  quiet.  Satisfied  with  this  he  sat  still  at 
Sandwich,  endeavoring  to  pacify  his  bloodthirsty  backwoods- 
men, who  seemed  furious  to  attack  Maiden.  Meanwhile  Col. 
Cass  and  Col.  Miller,  by  an  attack  upon  the  advanced  parties 
of  the  enemy,  demonstrated  the  willingness  and  power  of  their 
men  to  push  their  conquests  if  the  chance  were  given,  but 


OK,   THK    li«>KnKK    WAK8   OK   TWO    OKNTirRI>>. 


a«3 


Hull  refused  tlie  opportunity,  and  wlien  tlie  appointed  time 
arrived  that  the  army  wan  to  make  tliu  asBanit,  Hull,  tor  Bome 
reason,  returned  with  most  of  his  army  to  Detroit,  "  having 
effected  nothing  except  the  destruction  of  all  confidence  in 
him  on  the  part  of  the  whole  force  imder  his  control,  officers 
and  privates." 

By  this  time.  Col.  Proctor  had  reu(!hed  Maiden,  and  jierceiv- 
in;;  at  once  the  power  which  the  position  of  that  post  gave  him 
over  the  supplies  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  he  com- 
meuced  a  series  of  oj)crations,  the  object  of  which  was  to  cut 
off  the  communications  of  Hull  with  Ohio,  and  thus  not 
nit'rely  neutralize  all  active  operations  on  his  ]>art,  but  starve 
hiin  into  surrender  or  force  him  to  detail  his  wljole  army  in 
onler  to  keep  open  his  way  to  the  only  point  from  which  sup- 
plies could  reach  him.  A  pro]ier  force  on  Lake  Erie,  or  the 
ca))ture  of  Maiden,  would  have  prevented  this  annoying  and 
faral  mode  of  warfare,  but  the  imbecility  of  the  government 
ami  that  of  the  (leneral,  combined  to  favor  the  plans  of  Proc- 
t(ir.*  He  sto])])ed  the  stores  on  their  way  to  Detroit,  at  the 
river  Raisin,  and  defeated  the  insufficient  Imnd  of  two  hundred 
men  under  Van  Horn,  sent  bv  Hull  to  escort  them.  Further 
tluin  this,  he  so  far  withstood  a  detachment  of  five  hundred 
under  Col.  Miller  as  to  cause  Hull  to  recall  the  remnant  of  that 
viptorious  and  gallant  band,  though  it  had  completely  routed 
both  British  and  Indians.  In  this  way  Proctor  held  the 
Americans  in  check  until  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Brock.  This 
otHcer  reached  Maiden  on  the  thirteenth  of  August,  and  imme- 
diiitely  began  operations  for  the  conquest  of  Detroit. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  August,  while  a  ]>arty  under  Col. 
McArthur  was  dispatched  by  Hull  to  open  communication 
with  the  river  Raisin,  Gen.  Brock  appeared  at  Sandwich  and 
bcijan  to  erect  batteries  to  protect  his  fui'ther  operations. 
Hull  would  not  permit  any  of  his  men  to  molest  these  batteries, 
saying  that  if  the  enemy  did  not  fire  on  him  he  would  not  on 
tliem,  and  though,  when  summoned  to  surrender  on  the 
fifteenth  of  August,  he  stoutly  refused,  yet,  upon  the  sixteenth, 
without  striking  a  blow,  he  surrendered  the  town  of  Detroit 

*  See  Hull's  Defense — Western  Annals. 


964 


THK   LlVra  OF    l-ONTIAO   AND  TKCUMSKIi: 


and  territory  of  Michigan,  together  with  t'ourteon  hundred 
men,  longing  for  battle,  to  three  hundred  English  Boldiers,  four 
hundred  Canadian  militia,  diHguised  in  red  coats,  and  a  hand 
of  Tecuniseh's  warriors.^  For  this  conduct  he  was  aecuned 
of  treason  and  cowartlice,  and  convicted  of  the  latter.  "Nor 
can  we  doubt,''  says  Mr.  Peck,  "the  justice  of  the  sentence. 
However  brave  he  may  have  been  personally,  he  was  as  a  com- 
mander a  coward;  and  moreover  he  was  influenced,  confessedly, 
by  his  fears  as  a  father,  lest  his  daughter  and  her  children 
should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  Tn  truth  his 
faculties  seem  to  have  been  paralized  by  fear;  fear  that  he 
shtnihl  fail;  fear  that  his  troops  would  be  unfair  to  him;  fear 
that  the  savages  would  spare  no  one  if  (>pj)osed  with  vigor; 
fear  of  some  undefined  horrid  evil  impending." 

But  the  fall  of  Detroit  was  not  the  only  misfortune  of  this 
Bummer.  On  the  seventeenth  of  July  a  British  force,  together 
with  Canadians  and  Indians,  numbering  in  all,  one  thousand 
and  twenty,  attacked  the  American  garrison  at  Mackinac,  and 
the  latter,  aniounting  to  but  fifty-seven  effective  men,  felt 
unable  to  withstand  so  formidable  a  bodv,  and  to  avoid  the 
constantly  threatened  Indian  n^.assacre,  surrendercvl  as  prison- 
ers of  war,  and  were  dismissed  on  parole. 

•  McAllec'a  Account — ITuH'a  Trial — Western  Amiiils. 


IV 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

Chicago  —  Its  Eaki.y  Sktti.kmknt  — Ith  (Condition  in  1812  — OnoKii 
KOR  Evacuation  —  Oouncii,  with  thk  Inoianh  — Tiibik  PitoMtsBa 

AND  TIIKIll   TllKACIIEUY — TlIK    MaBBACUK —  Ill'.UOIBM   OK  WoMKN  — 
AccOUNi'H  OK  MUS.  Hki.M  ANU  OtHKUH  —  Tuitll.MNO  IncIUKNTB. 


We  next  come  to  one  of  tlie  saddest  events  in  the  whole 
narrative — the  massacre  of  Chicago.  A  small  trading  post 
had  been  established  at  Chicago  in  the  period  of  French  ex- 
plorations, but  no  village  formed;  and  it  will  be  remembered 
that  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  in  1795,  the  Pottawatomies, 
Miainis  and  other  nations  agreed  to  reliiupiish  their  right  to 
a  peace  of  land  six  miles  square  at  tiie  mouth  of  the  VAnaago 
river,  "where  a  fort  formerly  stood." 

The  United  States  erected  a  small  fort  upon  the  site  of  the 
])re8ent  city  of  Chicago  in  1804,  called  Fort  Dearborn.  It 
Btood  in  the  same  place  where  the  fort  was  erected  in  1833, 
but  was  of  a  different  construction,  having  two  block  houses 
on  the  soiithern  side,  and  on  the  northern  side,  a  saUy  port  or 
subterranean  passage  from  the  parade  ground  to  tho  river.  lu 
1812  the  fort  was  garrisoned  by  Capt.  Heald,  commanding, 
Lieut.  Helm,  Ensign  Ronan,  Surgeon  Voorhees  and  seventy- 
five  men,  very  few  of  whom  were  eifectivc. 

The  Indians  in  the  vicinity  had  always  manifested  a  friend- 
ship for  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  garrison.  However, 
the  pri'.icipal  chiefs  and  braves  of  the  Pottawatomie  nation 
visited  Fort  Maiden,  on  the  Canada  side,  annually,  received 
presents  to  a  large  amount,  and  were  in  alliance  with  Great 
Britain.  Many  Pottawatomies,  Winnebagoes,  Ottawas  and 
Shawanoes  were  in  tiie  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  yet  the  principal 
chiefs  in  the  immediate  vicinity  were  on  amicable  terms  with 
the  Americans  at  this  post.     Besides  those  persons,  attached  to 

(205) 


ti«rt 


tin.    \.l\H>   OK    IDN'IIAf    ANI»    TWI'MMKH: 


the  ^nrri««»n  tlu'ro  wuh  in  tlu'  tort  flm  fiimily  of  Mr.  Ki,i/,ie, 
who  haii  hctMi  enpij^t'd  in  the  t'nr  tnule  iit  thiit  HjM»t  from  Isin, 
and  a  few  CunmllanH,  or  en<j<tijcn,  with  thrir  wiven  an<l  chilihcii. 

On  the  Heventh  of  April,  IH12,  a  hand  of  hontiU*  Witmchii. 
goes  attacked  Mr.  LeeV  nettUMiient,  at  a  pliic*'  culli-d  Mard- 
Bcrabhle,  about  four  niiieH  from  Chicago,  and  inariHucnd  ii  Mr. 
White,  and  a  Frenchman  in  liis  employ.  Two  otiicr  mumi 
€BCHpe<l.  For  tJome  dayn  ut'toi'  this  there  were  nignH  of  hostile 
Indiana,  and  repeated  alarniH  at  the  garriaoi\,  \\\\\  tlui  whole 
partsed  off  in  quietncKH  tmtil  all  upprt>hen«ion  waw  dirfmirtHi'd. 
O  .  the  Heventii  of  the  following  Au^u.st,  Winneme«;,  or  (^uttisli, 
a  friendly  Pottawattomie  chitd',  arrived  at  Chicago  (I'ort 
Dearborn)  bringing  dif*|)atclie8  from  (Jovernor  Hull,  tlic 
commander-in-chief  in  the  Northwest.  Tlu^e  dis]»at<'lu'« 
announced  the  declaration  of  war  between  the  United  Stiitcn 
and  Great  Mritain;  that  (ileneral  Hull,  at  the  head  of  tlieiumv 
in  the  Northwest,  was  on  his  way  from  F(»rt  Wayne  to  Detroit, 
and  that  tlie  Hritish  had  post^essed  themselves  of  Muckiiiac. 
His  orders  to  Ca])tain  Heald,  were,  *'  to  evacuate  the  |)o.st, 
if  practical)le,  and,  in  that  event,  to  distribute  the  |)roiterty 
belonging  to  the  United  Slates,  in  the  fort,  and  in  the  factory 
or  agency,  to  the  Indians  in  the  neighl)(»rho(»d."  * 

Chief  Winnemeg.  after  delivering  liis  dispatclies,  repaired  to 
the  house  of  Mr.  Kinzie  and  stated  to  liim  tluit  he  wn^ 
acquainted  with  tlie  purport  of  the  communications  he  had 
brought,  and  begged  him  to  ascertain  if  it  were  the  intention 
of  Captain  Heald  to  evacuate  the  post,  lie  advised  stroiiijjy 
that  such  a  step  should  not  be  taken,  since  the  garrison  was 
well  supplied  with  ammunition,  and  ^yltil  ])rovisions  for  a  nix 
month's  siege.  He  added  that  it  would  l)e  far  better  to  remain 
until  a  reinforcement  could  be  sent  to  their  assistaiKc.  If, 
however,  Capt,  Heald  should  deride  (m  leaving  the  post,  it 
should  by  all  means  be  done  immediately.  The  Pottawato- 
mies,  through  whose  country  they  must  pass,  being  ignorant 
of  Winnemeg's  mission,  a  forced  march  might  be  made  before 
the  hostile  Indians  were  prepared  to  interrupt  them. 


•  Western  Annals. 


(>K,    TIIK    IIOUDKU    WAKH   0|>'   TWO   ifKNirKIM. 


267 


Oapt.  Iluuld  vfM  iminofiintuly  inforiiHKl  of  tliin  ndvicv.  He 
laid  that  it  wan  liis  inloiition  to  ('vuciiiito  tlut  pOHt,  hut  that 
iiiiMtiiuch  HH  liti  had  n^crivtHl  onlorn  to  diHtrihuto  thu  United 
8t)itt>H  property,  he  W(»uUl  nut  Umivu  until  lie  hud  colluetud  the 
IiidiuiiH  in  thu  noij^hlK)rho<>d,  and  made  a  t'tiir  division  of  tlie 
property  anioiij^  theni.  Winneniej?  then  iir^ed  the  expediency 
of  tiiiirehiii|j;  out  and  leaving  all  thingn  ntandin^.  I'oHHihIy, 
he  riikid,  while  tho  eava^eK  were  unf^a^ed  in  apportioning'  the 
B]M)ilM,  the  troopH  nii^ht  etl'eet  their  retreat  unnioleHted.  Mr. 
Kinxie  Htron^Iy  Hupported  thiB  advice,  hut  it  did  not  meet  the 
Ajiprohation  of  the  coininanding  otHeer.  The  ord(!r  for  evau* 
iiiitin^  the  poHt  wan  read  on  the  fidlowin^  morning  at  parade. 
For  Botne  reason,  Oapt.  Ileald  relied  on  hiH  own  judgment  in 
tliirt  matter,  and  refuHcd  to  hold  a  council  with  Iuh  otHcerH.  In 
tiio  course  of  the  day,  finding  no  council  was  called,  the  officers 
waited  u])on  (7upt.  Ileald,  wishing  to  bo  informed  as  to  what 
course  he  had  determined  to  pursue.  When  they  learned  his 
intention  to  leave  the  fort,  they  remonstrated  with  him,  setting 
fortii  the  dangers  that  such  a  measure  would  incur  upon  the 
gtirrison.  It  was  highly  improhahle,  they  said,  that  the  com- 
niiind  would  be  permitted  to  pass  through  the  country  in  safety 
to  Fort  Wayne.  For,  althougii  it  had  been  said  that  some  of 
tlu;  chiefs  had  opposed  an  attack  upon  the  ])ost,  planned  the 
preceding  autumn,  yet,  it  was  well  known  that  tliey  had  been 
actuated  in  that  matter  by  motives  of  private  regard  to  one 
family,  and  not  to  any  general  friendly  feeling  towards  the 
Americans;  and  that,  at  any  rate,  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected 
tliut  these  few  individuals  would  be  able  to  control  the  whole 
tribe,  who  were  thirsty  for  blood.  In  tlie  next  place,  their 
march  niust  necessarily  be  slow  as  their  movements  must  be 
accommodated  to  the  helplessness  of  the  women  and  children, 
of  whom  there  were  many  with  the  garrison  ;  that,  of  their 
small  force,  some  of  the  soldiers  were  superannuated  and  others 
invalid  ;  therefore,  since  the  course  to  be  pursued  was  left  dis- 
cretional, their  advice  was  to  remain  where  they  were,  and 
fortify  themselves  as  strongly  as  possible.  Succor  from  the 
other  side  of  the  peninsiila  might  arrive  before  they  could  be 
attacked  by  the  British  from  Mackinac,  and  even  should  there 


2flH 


TIIK   MVKM  or   KiNTlAd    AND  TWI'MiKIt: 


not,  it  woru  t'nr  bcttvr  tu  full  into  tliu  Imiiiiit  ot'  thu  latt«r,  tlito 
to  Imk'oiiiu  tliu  victiiriH  of  tho  ttuvagim. 

Otipt.  lIuald'M  ruply  war  that  a  HiM!ciuI  or<li>r  Iiad  iMMin  ImhucI 
by  th(^  War  Department,  tiiut  no  |M)Ht  hIumiIiI  Im)  HurrvtiduriNi 
witli«>ut  Imttlu  having  been  ^ivcn  ;  an<l  that  biH  forci;  wiu 
totally  inn(lu(|uat(>  to  un  cii^aguniuiit  witb  tlio  IndiaiiH.  lliut 
bu  hIiouM,  iiii((UOHtionHbly,  Ix)  ccnsurud  for  remaining  wlu'ii 
tbero  appuarBd  a  pronpect  of  a  nafr  march  lliroujifb,  and  tlmr 
upon  tbu  wbolo,  bu  (K'umrd  it  uxpudient  tu  atiHtMnbio  tlu> 
IndiaiiH,  diritribntu  tbu  pro[H>rty  amonif  tbcm,  and  tbon  lutk  nt' 
tlioin  un  CHi'ort  to  Fort  Wayne,  with  the  promise  of  u  ('((n*!!!- 
erable  reward  upon  tiu-Ir  nafe  Hrrivui — adding,  that  be  had  full 
confidence  in  the  friendly  profeHHlotiH  of  the  IndiauH,  from 
whom,  Hn  well  uh  from  the  H(»ldier8,  the  eupturo  of  iMackinm- 
bad  been  kept  a  profound  weeii  t. 

From  thJH  time  the  otlicerH  held  themrtolvt'H  aloof,  and  Hpoki; 
but  little  upon  the  subjeet,  thoujfh  they  connidered  the  project 
of  (yupt.  Jleald  little  »hort  ot  miidncrtd.  The  dihHaiistiu'tii)ii 
Rujonji;  the  Holdierrt  hourly  iiicrearted,  until  it  reaeluij  a  lii;,'li 
degree  of  inrtubordiimtion.  Upon  one  occasion,  as  Captain 
Ileahl  was  conversing  witb  Mr.  Kiiizie,  upon  thf  parade,  lie 
said,  '•  I  could  not  remain,  tiven  if  I  thought  it  bent,  for  I  have 
bu*;  a  struill  store  of  provisions."  "  Why,  (Juptain,"  said  .i 
soldier,  who  stoo<l  near,  forj^'ttiiig  all  eticju' tte,  ii.  the  excite- 
ment )f  the  nunnent,  "you  have  cattle  enough  to  last  the 
trottps  six  months."  "  Hut,"  replied  Captain  lleuld,  "  I  hiive 
no  wilt  to  preserve  the  beef  with."  "Then  jerk*  it,"  said  the 
man.  "as  the  In<lians  do  tiieir  venison." 

The  Indians  now  became  daily  more  unruly.  Knterinf?  the 
fort  in  defiance  of  the  sentinels,  they  made  their  way  witlii»ur 
ceremony  into  the  quarters  of  the  officers.  (Jn  one  occasion, 
an  Indian  took  up  a  rifle  and  fired  it  in  the  })arlor  of  the  com- 
manding officer,  Ji8  an  expression  of  defiance.  Some  were  of 
opinion,  that  it  was  intended,  among  the  young  men,  as  a 
signal  for  an  attack.     The  old  chiefs  |)as8ed  backward  and  for- 

*  This  is  done  by  ciittiu!^  the  meat  in  thin  slices,  placing' it  upmi  a 
Bcaflfuld  and  mailing  a  slow  tire  iiiuler  it,  wliicii  dries  and  smolces  it  ut  the 
lame  time. 


OH,    niK    n<)HI>KH    WAIW   or   two   OklMTUKIIIM. 


WJ 


wnnl,  titnoii^  tli«>  HHMiMiittliMl  )j;roii[)H,  with  f ho  itp|M*tinitu*<^  of  the 
miHt'  livi'ly  li^itutioti,  whilu  thu  *i<|iiii\vM  riMhi'il  to  Htid  t'ro  iti 
^mkt  uxoittunuiit,  iitul  oviiloiitly  propui'fti  tor  hoiii<>  t'ourt'ul 
tceuc*  Any  t'lirthor  iiiuriiftwtntion  of  ill-tuuliii^  whm,  liow* 
i>vi>r,  MiipprcHHtHl  tor  thu  prcHcrit,  and  ('uptiiin  llruM,  Htriiii^t)  an 
it  rimy  ituoiii,  contiiiuijil  to  eiitortitiii  u  conviction  of  hiit  having 
cruat(Ml  HO  HniicuMu  ii  (liH[)4Mition  iiinong  tho  IndinnH,  ah  would 
umiru  tho  Mifuty  of  thu  coniintin<l,  on  thuir  innruh  to  Fort 
Wiivno. 

In  the  inidHt  of  this  oxcitnniunt,  )i  niuHHuik^er  urrivod  lirtiniig 
thu  JiidiuiiH  from  Ti'cuiuHuh,  with  thu  ncwH  of  thu  cupturu  '>f 
Mackinac,  the  <h>fuut  of  Van  Home,  and  the  rctrcHt  of  ihm, 
Hull  frotii  (yuniuhi.  Uo  <luHiri>d  thuin  to  arm  i mined iatuly,  and 
intiriuitcd  that  Hull  would  Aoon  bu  (jompullud  to  Hurrcndur. 

Matters  continuud  in  tliirt  ntatu  until  thu  twelfth  of  Anjfust, 
when  a  council  was  held  with  tho  IndiauH  who  had  i-oHect^ni, 
N(»no  of  thu  military  otticurB  attended  jjxcept  Clajtt.  Ileald, 
althoujfh  rwjnu8to<l  by  him  to  do  so.  They  had  been  informed 
that  it  was  thu  intontiou  of  thu  youn^  chiefs  to  martsacre  ther^i 
in  council,  and  as  soon  as  tho  commiinihT  left  thu  fort,  they 
took  command  of  thu  blockhouses,  opeinnl  the  |M)rt  holes  and 
pointed  tliu  loaded  cannon  so  as  tocomtruind  the  whole  <'ouncil. 
This.  j)robably,  raused  a  postponement  of  their  horrid  designs. 

At  the  council  tho  captain  informed  the  Indians  of  his 
intentions  to  distribute,  the  next  day,  atnong  them,  all  the 
goods  in  the  storohoiises,  with  the  ammunition  and  j)rovision8. 
lie  rt'tiuested  the  Pottawatomies  to  furnish  him  an  escort  to 
Fort  Wayne,  promising  thetn  a  liberal  reward  \ipon  their 
arrival  there,  in  addition  to  tho  liberal  |)ru8onts  thoy  were  now 
to  receive.  The  Indians  were  profuse  in  their  professions  of 
good-will  and  friendship,  assented  to  all  he  proposed,  and  prom- 
ised all  that  lie  desired.  The  result  shows  tho  true  character 
of  the  savages.  "No  act  of  kindness,  nor  ofl'er  of  reward, 
could  assuage  their  thirst  for  blood."  Mr.  Kinzie,  who  well 
understood  the  Indian  character  and  their  designs,  waited  on 
the  commander,  in  the  hope  of  showing  him  his  real  situation. 
He  told  him  that  tho  Indians  had  been  secretly  hostile  to  the 

♦  Western  Annals.  ' 


'fff- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


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THK   LIVKS   OF   PONTIAO   AN»  TBOUMSEH: 


I  jV 


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'I 


Americans  for  a  long  time;  that  since  the  battle  of  Tippe- 
canoe he  had  dispatched  orders  to  all  his  traders  to  furnish  no 
ammunition  to  them,  and  pointed  out  the  wretched  policy  of 
Capt.  Heald  in  furnishing  the  enemy  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion to  destroy  the  Americans.  This  argument  opened  Heald^A 
eyes,  and  he  resolved  to  destroy  the  ammunition  and  liquor. 
On  the  thirteenth  the  goods  were  distributed,  and  the  liquor 
and  ammunition  destroyed. 

Meanwhile,  Capt.  Wells  was  hastening  forward  from  Fort 
Wayne  to  aid  the  garrison  at  Chicago.  He  had  heard  of  the 
order  of  Gen.  Hull  to  evacuate  Fort  Dearborn,  and  knowing 
the  hostile  intentions  of  the  Pottawatomies,  he  had  made  a 
rapid  march  through  the  wilderness,  to  prevent,  if  possible, 
the  exposure  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Heald,  the  officers  and  garri- 
son, to  certain  destruction.  But  he  came  too  late!  The 
ammunition  had  been  destroyed,  and  the  provisions  were  in  the 
hands  uf  the  enemy.  He,  therefore,  urged  an  immediate 
departure,  and,  accordingly  every  preparation  was  made  for 
the  march  of  the  troops  on  the  following  morning.  On  the 
day  of  Capt.  Wells'  arrival  another  council  was  held  with  the 
savages,  in  which  they  expressed  great  dissatisfaction  at  the 
destruction  of  the  liquor  and  ammunition.  ^VMurmurs  and 
threats  were  heard  in  every  quarter."  Among  the  chiefs  and 
braves  were  several  who,  although  they  partook  of  the  feelings 
of  hostility  to  the  Americans,  yet  retained  a  personal  regard 
for  the  troops  and  the  white  families  in  the  place.  They 
exerted  their  utmost  influence  to  allay  the  angry  feelings  of 
the  savage  warriors,  but  to  no  purpose.  Among  these  was 
Black  Partridge,  a  chief  of  some  distinction.  The  evening 
after  the  second  conncil,  he  entered  Heald's  room  and  said: 
"  Father,  I  come  to  deliver  up  to  you  the  medal  I  wear.  It 
was  given  me  by  the  Americans,  and  I  have  long  worn  it  in 
token  of  mutual  friendship.  But  our  young  men  are  resolved 
to  imbrue  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the  whites.  I  cannot 
restrain  them,  and  I  will  not  wear  a  token  of  peace  while  I  am 
compelled  to  act  as  an  enemy."  The  ammunition  that  had 
been  reserved — twenty-tive  rounds  to  a  man — was  now  distrib- 
uted.     The  baggage  wagons  for   the  sick,  the  women  and 


OR,    THB    BOKOKR    WARS   OF   'VWU   OKNTITRIKH. 


271 


children  were  ready,  and,  "  amidst  the  gnrrounding  gloom,  and 
the  expectation  of  a  fatiguing  march  through  the  wildemeBS, 
or  a  disastrous  issue  on  the  morrow,  the  whole  party,  except 
the  watchful  sentinels,  retired  for  a  little  rest."  At  length  the 
fatal  morning  of  the  fifteenth  of  August  arrived.  The  sun 
roBe  in  splendor  above  the  placid  bosom  of  Lake  Michigan,  the 
air  was  balmy,  and,  excepting  the  distressing  apprehensions  of 
the  garrison  and  their  families,  the  morning  was  delightfiil. 

At  an  early  hour  Mr.  Kinzie  received  a  message  from  Tope- 
neebe,  a  friendly  chief  of  the  St.  Joseph's  band,  informing  him 
that  the  Pottawatomies,  who  had  promised  to  be  an  escort  to 
the  detachment,  designed  mischief.  Mr.  Kinzie  had  placed  his 
family  under  the  protection  of  some  friendly  Indians.  This 
party  embarked  in  a  boat,  and  consisted  of  Mrs.  Kinzie,  four 
children,  a  clerk  of  Mr.  Kinzie's,  two  servants  and  the  boat- 
men, with  two  Indians  as  protectors.  This  boat  was  intended 
to  pass  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake  to  St.  Joseph, 
while  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  eldest  son  had  agreed  to  accompany 
Capt.  Heald  and  the  troops,  as  he  thought  his  influence  over 
the  Indians  would  enable  him  to  restrain  the  fury  of  the  sav- 
ages, as  they  were  much  attached  to  him  and  his  family. 
Topeneebe  urged  him  and  his  son  to  accompany  his  family  in 
the  boat,  assuring  him  the  hostile  Indians  would  allow  his 
boat  to  pass  in  safety  to  St.  Joseph's.  The  boat  had  but 
reached  the  lake,  when  another  messenger  arrived  from  the 
same  chief  to  detain  them  where  they  were. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  troops,  with  the  baggage  wagons,  left 
the  fort ''  with  martial  music  and  in  military  array."  Gapt. 
Wells,  at  the  head  of  his  band  of  Miamis,  led  the  advance^ 
with  his  face  blackened  after  the  manner  of  Indians ;  the  troops 
with  the  wagons,  containing  the  women  and  children,  the  sick 
and  lame,  followed,  while,  at  a  little  distance  behind,  were  the 
Pottawatomies,  about  five  hundred  in  number,  who  had  pledged 
their  honor  to  escort  them  in  safety  to  Fort  Wayne.  The  party 
took  the  road  along  the  lake  shore,  and  on  reaching  the  point 
where  a  range  of  sand  hills  commenced,  the  Pottawatomies 
defiled  on  the  right  into  the  prairie,  so  as  to  bring  the  sand 
hills  between  them  and  the  Americans.    They  had  marched 


272 


THK  MVKS  OF   PONTIAO   AND  TKOlTMBKIi: 


■r^ 


%^ 


about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort,  when  Capt.  Wells,  who, 
with  his  Miamis,  was  in  advance,  rode  furiously  back  and 
exclaimed : 

"They  are  about  to  attack  us;  form  instantly,  and  charge 
upon  theml" 

But  these  words  had  scarcely  been  uttered,  when  a  volly  of 
balls  from  Indian  muskets,  behind  the  sand-hills,  poured  upon 
them.  The  troops  were  formed  as  quick  as  possible  and 
charged  up  the  bank.  One  man,  a  veteran  soldier  of  seventy, 
fell  as  they  mounted  the  bank.  The  battle  became  general. 
The  Miamis  fled  at  the  outset,  though  Capt.  Wells  did  his 
utmost  to  induce  them  to  stand  their  ground.  Tlieir  chief  rode 
np  to  the  Pottawatomies,  charged  them  with  treachery,  and, 
brandishing  his  tomahawk,  declared,  "  he  would  be  the  first  to 
head  a  party  of  Americans  and  punish  them."  He  then 
turned  his  horse  and  galloped  otter  his  companions  over  the 
prairie.^  The  American  troops  charged  upon  the  Indians  in 
a  gallant  manner,  and  "  sold  their  lives  dearly."  Mrs.  Helm, 
wife  of  Lieut.  Helm,  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  action,  and 
behaved  with  singular  presence  of  mind.  Indeed  every  woman 
present  acted  with  great  composure.  Mrs.  Helm,  in  giving  an 
account  of  the  battle,  or  the  massacre,  said  that  the  horses 
pranced  and  bounded,  and  could  hardly  be  restrained,  as  the 
balls  whistled  around  them.  She  drew  off  to  one  side  and  gazed 
upon  Lieut.  Helm,  her  husband,  who  was  as  yet  unharmed. 
She  says:  "I  felt  that  my  hour  was  come  and  endeavored  to 
forget  those  I  loved,  and  prepare  myself  for  my  approaching 
fate.  While  I  was  thus  engaged,  the  surgeon,  Dr.  V.,  came 
up;  he  was  badly  wounded.  His  horse  had  been  shot  under 
him,  and  he  had  received  a  ball  in  his  leg.  Every  muscle  of 
his  countenance  was  quivering  with  the  agony  of  terror.  He 
said  to  me, '  Do  you  think  they  will  take  our  lives?  I  am  badly 
wounded,  but  I  think  not  mortally.  Perhaps  we  might  pur- 
chase our  lives  by  promising  them  a  large  reward.  Do  you 
think  there  is  any  chance?' 

"  '  Dr.  V.,'  oaid  I, '  do  not  let  us  waste  the  few  moments  that 
yet  remain  to  us  in  such  vain  hopes.    Our  fate  is  inevitable. 

♦  Western  Annals. 


OB,  TIIK   BOKUUK    WAK8  OF   TWO  UKNTUKIBS. 


278 


In  a  few  moments  we  muBt  appear  before  the  bar  of  God.  Let 
(IB  endeavor  to  make  what  preparation  is  yet  in  our  power.* 
^Oh  1  I  cannot  die  I'  exclaimed  he;  'I  am  not  fit  to  die— if  I 
had  but  a  short  time  to  prepare — death  is  awful  I'  I  pointed 
to  ensign  Honan,  who,  though  mortally  wounded,  and  nearly 
down,  was  still  fighting  with  desperation  upon  one  knee. 

'«*Look  at  that  man,'  said  I,  'at  least  he  dies  like  a  soldier  I' 

"^Yos,'  replied  the  unfortunate  man,  with  a  convulsive 
gaap,  '  but  he  has  no  terrors  of  the  future — he  is  an  unbe- 
liever 1' 

"  At  this  moment  a  young  Indian  raised  his  tomahawk  at 
me.  By  springing  aside  I  avoided  the  blow  which  was  aimed 
at  my  skull,  but  which  alighted  on  my  shoulder.  I  seized  him 
around  the  neck,  and,  while  exerting  my  utmost  efforts  to  get 
possession  of  his  scalping-knife,  which  hung  in  a  scabbard 
over  his  breast,'  I  was  dragged  from  his  grasp  by  another  and 
older  Indian. 

''The  latter  bore  me,  struggling  and  resisting,  towards  the 
lake.  Notwithstanding  the  rapidity  with  which  I  was  hurried 
along,  I  recognized,  as  I  passed  them,  the  lifeless  remains  of 
the  unfortunate  surgeon.  Some  murderous  tomahawk  had 
stretched  him  upon  the  very  spot  where  I  had  last  seen  him. 

''  I  was  immediately  plunged  into  the  water,  and  held  there 
with  a  forcible  hand,  notwithstanding  my  resistance.  I  soon 
perceived,  however,  that  the  object  of  my  captor  was  not  to 
drown  me,  as  he  held  me  firmly  in  such  a  position  as  to  place 
my  head  above  the  water.  This  reassured  me,  and  regarding 
him  attentively,  I  soon  recognized,  in  spite  of  the  paint,  with 
which  he  was  disguised.  The  Black  Partridge. 

"  When  the  firing  had  somewhat  subsided,  my  preserver  bore 
me  from  the  water  and  conducted  me  up  the  sand-banks.  It 
was  a  burning  August  morning,  and  walking  through  the 
sand  in  my  drenched  condition,  was  inexpressibly  painful  and 
fatiguing.  I  stopped  and  took  ofF  my  shoes  to  free  them  from 
the  sand,  with  which  they  were  nearly  filled,  when  a  squaw 
seized  and  carried  them  off,  and  I  was  obliged  to  proceed 
without  them.  When  we  had  gained  the  prairie,  I  was  met 
by  my  father,  who  told  me  that  my  husband  was  safe,  and  but 
18 


t 


174 


THX   UVXS  OF  FONTIAO  AND  TK(^lTM8Kii: 


■lightly  wounded.  They  led  mo  gently  back  toward  the 
Ghicago  river,  along  the  southern  bank  of  which  was  the  Pot. 
tawatomie  encampment  At  one  time  I  was  placed  npon  a 
horse  without  a  saddle,  but  soon  finding  the  motion  insup- 
portable, I  sprang  off.  Supported  partly  by  my  kind  con- 
ductor, and  partly  by  another  Indian,  Pee-ao-tum,  who  held 
dangling  in  his  hand  the  scalp  of  Capt.  Wells,  I  dragged  my 
fainting  steps  to  one  of  the  Wigwams. 

"The  wife  of  Wau-hee-nee-tnah,  a  chief  from  the  Illinois 
river,  was  standing  near,  and  seeing  my  exhausted  condition, 
she  seized  a  kettle,  dipped  up  some  water  from  a  little  stream 
that  flowed  near,  threw  into  it  some  maple  sugar,  and  stirring 
it  up  with  her  hand,  gave  it  to  me  to  drink.  This  act  of  kind- 
ness, in  the  midst  of  so  many  atrocities,  touched  me  most 
sensibly,  but  my  attention  was  soon  diverted  to  another  object. 
The  fort  had  become  a  scene  of  plunder  to  such  as  remained, 
after  the  troops  had  marched  out.  Tlie  cattle  had  been  shot 
down  as  they  ran  at  large  and  lay  dead  or  dying  around. 

"As  the  noise  of  the  firing  grew  gradually  less,  and  the 
stragglers  from  the  victorious  party  dropped  in,  I  received 
confirmation  of  what  my  father  had  hurriedly  communicated 
in  our  renconter  on  the  lake  shore;  namely,  that  the  whites 
had  surrendered  after  the  loss  of  about  two-thirds  their  num- 
ber. They  had  stipulated  for  the  preservation  of  their  lives, 
and  those  of  the  remaining  women  and  children,  and  for  tlteir 
delivery  at  some  of  the  British  posts,  unless  ransomed  by 
traders  in  the  Indian  country.  It  appears  that  the  wonnded 
prisoners  were  not  considered  as  included  in  the  stipulation, 
and  a  horrible  scene  occurred  upon  their  being  brought  into 
camp. 

"  An  old  squaw,  infuriated  by  the  loss  of  friends,  oi^  excited 
by  the  sanguinary  scenes  around  her,  seemed  possessed  by  a 
demoniac  ferocity.  She  seized  a  stable  fork  and  assaulted  one 
miserable  victim  who  lay  groaning  and  writhing  in  the  agony 
of  his  wounds,  aggravated  by  the  scorching  beams  of  the  sun. 
With  a  delicacy  of  feeling  scarcely  to  have  been  expected 
under  such  circumstances,  Wau-hee-nee-mah  stretched  a  mat 
across  two  poles  between  me  and  this  dreadful  scene.    1  was 


OK,  TIIK   BOKDKR   WARS  OP  tV/O  OKSTWm. 


276 


krd  the 
he  Pot- 
npon  a 
I  iiiBup- 
ad  con- 
ho  held 
fged  my 

Illinois 
Dndition, 
e  strean\ 
i  Btirring 
t  of  kind- 
me  most 
,er  object, 
remained, 
been  shot 
and. 

,,  and  the 
[  received 
nunicated 
|he  whites 

leir  num- 
fheir  lives, 
for  their 
[somed  by 
wounded 

iipulation, 

,ught  into 

lor  excited 
sssed  by  a 
laulted  one 
Ithe  agony 
If  the  sun. 
expected 
led  a  mat 
le.    1  was 


thns  spared,  in  some  degree,  a  view  of  its  horrors,  althongh  I 
could  not  entirely  close  my  ears  to  the  cries  of  the  sufferer. 
The  following  night  five  more  of  the  wounded  prisoners  were 
tomahawked." 

But  why  dwell  upon  this  painful  subject?  Why  describe 
the  butchery  of  the  children,  twelve  of  whom,  placed  together 
on  one  baggage- wagon,  fell  beneath  the  merciless  tomahawk 
of  one  young  savagel  This  atrocious  act  was  committed  after 
the  whites,  twenty-seven  in  number,  had  surrendered.  When 
Gapt.  Wells  beheld  it  he  exclaimed;  "  Is  that  their  game?  Then 
I  will  kill  toot"  So  saying,  he  turned  his  horse's  head,  and 
started  for  the  Indian  camp  near  the  fort,  where  had  been  let^ 
tlieir  squaws  and  children. 

Several  Indians  pursued  him,  firing  at  him  as  he  galloped 
along.  He  laid  himself  flat  on  the  neck  of  his  horse,  loading 
a|id  firing  in  that  position;  at  length  the  balls  of  his  pursuers 
took  effect,  killing  his  horse  and  severely  wounding  himself. 
At  this  moment  he  was  met  by  Winnemeg  and  Wan-ban-see, 
who  endeavored  to  save  him  from  the  savages  who  had  now 
overtaken  him;  but  as  they  supported  him  along,  after  having 
disengaged  him  from  his  horse,  he  received  his  death-blow 
from  one  of  the  party,  (Pee-so- tum,)  who  stabbed  him  in  the 
back. 

The  heroic  resolution  of  one  of  the  soldier's  wives  deserves 
to  be  recorded.  She  had,  from  the  first,  expressed  a  determi- 
nation never  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  savages,  believing 
that  their  prisoners  were  always  subjected  to  tortures  worse 
than  death.  When,  therefore,  a  party  came  up  to  her,  to  make 
her  prisoner,  she  fought  with  desperation,  refusing  to  surrender, 
although  assured  of  safe  treatment,  and  literally  suffered  herself 
to  be  cut  to  pieces,  rather  than  become  their  captive.* 

The  heart  of  Capt.  Wells  was  taken  out  and  cut  into  pieces, 
and  distribnted  among  the  tribes.  His  mutilated  body  was 
not  interred  until  "Billy  Caldwell,"  Tecumseh's  Secretary, 
arrived  and  buried  it.  The  head  was  entirely  separated  from 
the  body,  and  the  latter  was  cut  into  several  pieces.  The  fam- 
ily of  Mr.  Kinzie  had  been  taken  from  the  boat  to  their  home, 

♦  Western  Annals. 


976 


THB  Ltrm  or  pontiao  Attn  TKontMKii: 


I: 


by  friendly  Indiana,  and  there  strictly  guarded.  Very  toon  a 
hoatile  party  of  the  Pottawatomies  arrived  from  the  Wabaih, 
and  "  it  required  all  the  skill  and  bravery  of  Black  Partridge, 
Waubansee,  Billy  Caldwell  and  other  friendly  Indians  to  pro- 
tect them."  Messengers  had  been  sent  by  the  Chicago  Indians 
to  notity  all  hostile  tribes  of  the  intended  evacuation  of  the 
fort,  and  of  their  plan  of  attacking  the  troops.  Wherever 
these  messages  were  delivered,  the  Indians  wasted  no  time  in 
repairing  to  the  scone  of  massacre,  but  most  of  them  arrived 
too  late.  These  were  infuriated  at  their  disappointment,  and 
sought  to  glut  their  vengeance  on  the  wounded  and  prisoners. 
Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family  escaped  through  the  protection  of 
the  savages.  Of  the  other  prisoners,  Capt.  Hoald  and  Mra. 
Heald  were  sent  across  the  lake  to  St.  Joseph's,  the  day  after 
the  battle.  Capt.  Heald  had  received  two  wounds,  and  hin  wife 
seven,  the  ball  of  one  of  which  was  cut  from  hor  arm  by  Mf. 
Kinzie  with  a  pen-knife,  alter  the  engagement.  Mrs.  Heald 
was  ransomed  on  the  battle-Held  by  a  half-breed,  for  a  mule 
and  ten  bottles  of  whisky.  Capt.  Heald  was  taken  prisoner  by 
an  Indian  from  the  Kankakee,  wlio,  seeing  the  wounded  and 
suffering  condition  of  Mrs.  Heald,  generoulsy  released  his  pris- 
oner, that  ho  might  accompany  his  wife.  But  when  this  Indian 
returned  to  his  village  on  the  Kankakee,  ho  found  that  Iiis  gen- 
erosity had  excited  so  much  dissatisfaction  in  his  band  that  he 
resolved  to  visit  St.  Joseph's  and  reclaim  his  prisoner.  News 
of  his  intention  having  reached  Topeneebe,  Keepotah,  Chan- 
donnai  and  other  friendly  braves,  they  sent  them  in  a  bark 
canoe,  under  the  charge  of  Robinson,  a  half-breed,  along  the 
eastern  side  of  Lake  Michigan,  three  hundred  miles,  to  Mack- 
inac, where  they  were  delivered  over  to  the  commanding 
officer. 

Lieut.  Helm  was  wounded  in  the  action  and  taken  prisoner; 
and  afterwards  taken  by  some  friendly  Indians  to  the  Au  Sable, 
and  from  thence  to  St.  Louis,  and  liberated  from  captivity 
through  the  agency  of  Thomas  Forsytli.  Mrs.  Helm  received 
a  slight  wound  in  the  ankle;  had.  her  horse  shot  from  under 
her;  and,  after  passing  through  the  agonizing  scenes  described, 
went  with  the  family  of  Mr.  Kinzie  to  Detroit.    The  soldiers, 


OR,   TIIK    UORDKR   WARM  or  TWO  OKNTURIKM. 


277 


with  their  wives  and  children,  were  diapered  among  the  differ- 
ent villages  of  tlie  Pottawatomics,  upon  the  Illinois,  Wabash, 
Itock  River  and  Milwaukee.  The  largest  pro|K>rtion  were  taken 
to  Detroit,  and  ransomed  the  following  spring.  Some,  how- 
ever, remained  in  captivity  another  year,  and  experienced  more 
kindness  than  was  expected  from  an  enemy  so  merciless.* 

In  addition  to  the  accounts  of  the  massacre  of  Fort  Dear- 
l)orn,  already  given,  I  will  affix  the  official  report  of  Capt. 
Heald,  which  differs  in  no  essential  particular  from  that  already 
given: 

"  On  the  ninth  of  August,  I  received  orders  trom  Qen.  Hull  to  evacuate 
the  pott,  and  proceed  with  my  command  to  Detroit,  leaving  it  at  my  dis- 
cretion to  dispose  of  the  public  property  as  I  thought  proper.  The 
neighboring  Indians  got  the  information  as  early  as  I  did,  and  came  ftrom 
til  quarters  to  receive  the  goods  in  the  factory  store,  which  they  understood 
were  to  be  given  to  them.  On  the  thirteenth,  Capt.  Wells,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
arrived  with  about  thirty  Miamis,  for  the  purpose  of  escorting  us  in  by  the 
request  of  Qen.  Hull.  On  the  fourteenth,  I  delivered  the  Indians  all  the 
goods  in  the  factory  store,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  provisions, 
which  we  could  not  take  away  with  us. 

The  surplus  arms  and  ammunition,  I  thought  proper  to  destroy,  fearing 
they  would  make  had  use  of  it,  if  put  in  their  possession. 

I  also  destroyed  all  the  licjuor  on  hand,  soon  after  they  began  to  collect. 
The  collection  was  unusually  large  for  that  place,  but  they  conducted  with 
the  strictest  propriety,  till  aflpr  I  left  the  fort. 

On  the  fifteenth,  at  nine  o'clock  a.  u.,  we  commenced  our  tnsrch— a  part 
of  the  Miamis  were  detached  in  fk-ont,the  remainder  in  our  r.'-<;  -ui  guards, 
under  the  direction  of  Capt.  Wells.  The  situation  of  the  cc  atry  ren- 
dered it  necessary  for  us  to  take  the  beach,  with  the  lake  on  our  left,  and  a 
high  bank  on  our  right,  at  about  one  hundred  yards  distance.  We  pro- 
ceeded about  a  mile  and  a  half,  when  it  was  discovered  the  Indians  were 
prepared  to  attack  us  iVom  behind  the  bank. 

I  immediately  marched  up  the  company  to  the  top  of  the  bank,  when 
the  action  commenced ;  after  firing  one  round,  recharged,  and  the  Indians 
gave  way  in  f^ont  and  Joined  those  on  our  flanks.  In  about  fifteen  min- 
utes, they  got  poBssssion  of  all  our  horses,  provision  and  baggage  of  every 
description,  and,  finding  the  Miamis  did  not  assist  us,  I  drew  off  the  few 
men  I  had  left,  and  took  possession  of  a  small  elevation  in  the  open  prairie 
out  of  shot  of  the  bank  or  any  other  cover.  The  Indians  did  not  follow 
me,  but  assembled  in  a  body  on  the  the  top  of  the  bank,  and  after  some 
consultation  among  themselves,  made  signs  to  me  to  approach  them.    I 


•  Peck's  Compilation. 


978 


TIIK    I.IVKH  or    I'ONTIAO    ANI>  TKf'ltMRKII : 


•dranced  luw»rda  llioni  iilttnp,  mid  wm  invt  hy  one  n(  tli«  PoltkWKlonilt 
chloAi  cullvd  11)0  BUckbird,  with  »n  Interpreter, 

Alter  thMklng  bands^  ho  requested  ni«  to  ■urrendor,  promliing  to  tpAre 
the  lives  of  nil  the  prUonora.  On  »  few  momenta*  conitiderMlon,  I  con. 
eluded  It  would  be  tho  moat  prudent  to  comply  with  hlarvqueat,  «lthouKh 
I  did  not  put  entire  confldenoe  In  hia  promUe.  After  delivering  up  our 
RriuB,  we  were  tHki*n  Imclc  to  their  encampment  near  the  fort,  and  diatrlb- 
uted  among  the  ditrvrcnt  tribva, 

Tho  next  morning  they  act  flre  to  the  fort,  and  left  the  place,  taking  the 
priaoncni  wl*,h  them.  TIteIr  nunila>r  of  wnrrlora  wua  between  four  and 
Ave  hundred,  moatly  of  the  Pottawatomie  nation,  and  their  loaa,  fk-om  the 
beat  Information  I  could  get,  was  about  fifteen,  Our  atrongth  was  flfty. 
four  regulara  and  twelve  militia,  out  of  which  twenty-alx  rogulara  and  all 
Uie  militia,  -were  killed  In  the  action,  with  two  women  and  twelve 
children. 

Enaign  Qeorge  Ronan  and  Doctor  laaao  V.  Van  Voorhees,  of  my  com* 
pany,  with  Capt.  Wclla,  of  Fort  Wayne,  are,  to  my  great  aorrow,  numlwred 
among  the  dead.  Lieut.  Llna  T.  Holm,  with  twenty-tlve  non-commlHaioued 
officers  and  privatea,  and  eleven  women  and  children,  were  prlaonera  when 
we  separated. 

Mrs.  Heald  and  myself  were  taken  to  tho  mouth  of  the  rivor  St.  Joaoph, 
and  being  both  badly  wounded,  were  permitted  to  reaide  with  Mr.  Burnet, 
an  Indian  trader.  In  a  few  days  after  our  arrival  there,  the  Indians  all 
went  off  to  take  Fort  Wayne,  and  in  their  absence  I  engaged  a  Frencliman 
to  take  us  to  Michlllmackinac,  by  water,  where  I  gave  myself  up  as  a 
prisoner  of  war,  with  one  of  my  sergeants. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 


RaIKINO  All  ArMT  to    CoNQUBR   TIIR    ENOMin    III    TUB    NOHTUWiar 
KaHI.Y    SeTTI.KMKNTN    in    IiXINOII  —  ExPRDITIOK   under   GlIVKRNOm 
KnWAIlM     AND    ('UIX)NKL     KlIR«BI.I.— HKIflR    OF    FOHT     IIaRHIMN  — 

Captain  TATi.oR't  DKrRNsK— Tub  Aumt  undbh  IlARniiON,  Win> 

CHMTBR  AND  TCPPBR. 

The  defeat  of  General  Hull,  and  the  victories  of  English  and 
Indians  in  the  Northwest  produced  the  greatest  excitement 
among  the  people  of  the  Western  States,  and  especially  in 
Kentucky  and  Ohio.  By  the  middle  of  August,  1812,  the 
whole  Northwest,  with  the  exception  of  Fort  Wayne  and  Fort 
Harrison,  was  in  the  possession  of  the  British  and  the  savages. 
But  one  desire  seemed  to  actuate  the  heart  of  every  American 
on  the  borders — ''to  wipe  off  the  disgrace  with  which  our 
arms  had  been  stained,  and  to  roll  back  the  desolation  that 
threatened  the  frontier  of  Ohio  and  territories  beyond." 

As  we  have  seen,  General  Harrison  had  been  appointed 
Brigadier-General  in  the  army  of  the  United  States.  The  all 
absorbing  theme  was  now  the  raising  of  another  army  to  con- 
q\ier  the  British  and  subdue  the  red  men.  The  work  immedi- 
ately began.  In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  Kentucky  had 
about  seven  thousand  men  in  the  field  under  Gen.  Thos.  Todd. 
A  large  l)ody  of  troops  was  also  raised  in  the  same  State  to 
march  against  the  Indians  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  under  Gen. 
Samuel  Hopkins.  Meanwhile  Governor  Edwards,  of  Illinois, 
was  active  in  raising  men  and  making  preparations  for  an 
expedition  against  the  hostile  Indians  on  the  Illinois  river. 
Col.  Wm.  Rnssell  engaged  himself  in  raising  a  company  of 
rangers  to  cooperate  with  Governor  Edwards.  The  place  of 
rendezvous  was  near  the  present  town  of  Edwardsville,  west 
of  Cahokia,  and  named  ''Camp  Eussell."    The  scattered  set- 

(879) 


980 


TUB  ijvn  or  roNTiAo  and  tkoummkii: 


1 


tleinenU  of  Illinuis  then  extended  no  further  north  than  Wood 
river,  near  Alton.  A  line  drawn  from  that  iM)int  pa»t  Green' 
Title  and  Mount  Vernon  to  Shawneetown,  would  have  encloied 
all  the  white  population,  except  a  few  families  on  the  Wabacb, 
adjacent  to  Vincennee.  Tlie  concerted  arrangement  wa»,  for 
Oen.  Hopkina,  with  about  four  thousand  mounted  riflemen,  to 
move  up  the  Wabash  to  Fort  Harrison,  cross  over  to  the  Illinois 
country,  destroy  all  the  Indian  villages  near  the  Wabash,  march 
across  the  prairies  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Sangamon  and 
Vermilion  rivers,  form  a  junction  with  the  Illinois  rangers 
under  Governor  Edwards  and  Col.  Russell,  and  sweep  over  all 
the  villages  along  the  Illinois  river.* 

As  soon  as  the  troops  under  Gen.  Hopkins  entered  the 
prairies  of  Illinois  they  became  disorderly,  which  defeated  the 
objects  of  the  expedition.  By  constantly  firing  at  the  game 
with  which  they  came  in  contact,  they  made  the  Indians  aware 
of  their  approach,  and  gaining  a  knowledge  of  the  force  of 
their  invaders,  they  left  their  villages  in  flight.  The  troops 
under  Governor  Edwards  and  Ool.  Russell,  however,  accom- 
plished more;  they  ascended  the  river  to  the  village  of  the 
Peorias  and  drove  the  savages  into  the  swamps,  killing  many 
and  destroying  their  town. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  August  of  the  sanie  year,  the  Pot- 
tawatomios,  Ottawas,  and  other  hostile  Indians,  made  an  attack 
on  Fort  Wayne,  which  they  continued  until  the  sixteenth  of 
September,  cutting  off  all  approach  to  the  fort  until  relieved 
by  a  strong  force  under  Gen.  Harrison.  Early  in  September 
a  fierce  attack  was  made  on  Fort  Harrison,  situated  a  short 
distance  above  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Terre  Haute,  and 
which  was  commanded  by  Gapt.  Z.  Taylor.  Tecumseh's  band 
and  many  other  hostile  Indians  appeared  before  the  fort,  having 
first  murdered  two  persons  belonging  to  the  post,  whom  they 
found  in  the  open  fields.  They  set  fire  to  one  of  the  block- 
houses, which  was  discovered  about  midnight,  and  which  pro- 
duced the  greatest  confusion  among  the  garrison.  Capt.  Taylor 
immediately  directed  the  men  to  get  the  buckets,  carry  water 
from  the  well  and  extinguish  the  fire,  but  from  some  cause 

*  Peek's  Compilation 


OR,   THE   ■OKDRR    WARS  OF   TWO  fmNTlIRIRS. 


981 


the  men  were  slow  in  executing  the  ordert,  and  in  ipite  of 
every  exertion  they  conid  make  the  flames  aMiended  to  the 
roof.  At  thii  blookliouM  adjoined  the  barraoki  that  made 
part  of  the  fortifications,  most  of  the  men  immediately  fpave 
tlietnM*lv«s  up  for  lost,  and  the  Captain  had  the  greatest  difli. 
ciilty  in  getting  his  orders  executed.  Indeed,  from  the  raging 
of  tlie  fire,  the  yelling  and  howling  of  a  thousand  sava^^ifs,  the 
cries  of  women  and  children  in  the  fort,  and  the  dusponiling 
of  lo  many  men,  his  own  feelings  were  unpleasant.  Tlio 
lituation  became  worse  on  account  of  the  sickness  which  at  Uie 
time  prevailed  in  the  fort.  Two  of  the  strongest  men  of  the 
garrison,  regarding  resistance  out  of  reason,  jumped  the  pickett 
and  left.  In  this  terrible  moment  Capt.  Taylor  conceived  a 
plan  by  which  the  fort  and  garrison  were  saved.  He  explained 
to  the  men  that  by  throwing  off  a  part  of  the  roof  that  joined 
the  blockhouse  that  was  on  fire  and  keeping  the  end  perfectly 
wet,  the  whole  row  of  buildings  might  be  saved.  In  this  way^ 
the  fire  would  leave  only  an  opening  of  eighteen  or  twenty 
feet  for  the  entrance  oi'  the  Indians  afler  the  house  was  con- 
xitned,  and  that  a  temporary  breastwotk  might  be  erected  tO' 
prevent  their  entering  there.  The  men  were  taken  with  the 
plan  and  went  to  work  in  a  good  spirit  to  execute  it;  mean- 
while tliose  unable  for  such  arduous  duty  kept  up  a  constant 
tire  from  the  other  blockhouse  and  the  two  bastioiii.  The  men 
who  undertook  the  execution  of  the  Captain's  plan  succeeded 
by  the  loss  of  only  one  of  their  number.  In  a  few  moments 
the  roof  was  removed,  and  before  the  dawn  of  the  following 
morning  a  temporary  breastwork  had  been  erected  over  the 
ashes  of  the  blockhouse.  During  the  whole  of  the  siege  but 
two  of  the  men  were  killed  within  the  fort.  Of  those  who 
jumped  the  pickets,  one  was  murdered  in  the  most  cruel  man- 
ner by  the  Indians,  the  other  escaped  to  the  fort  with  his  arm 
broken.  The  savages  kept  up  a  continual  fire  until  about  six 
o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  when  it  was  returned  with 
such  eflfect  that  they  were  driven  away. 

The  Indians  drove  up  the  horses  that  belonged  to  the  settlers 
of  the  post,  and  as  they  could  not  catch  them  they  shot  the 
whole  of  them  before  the  eyes  of  the  commandant,  as  also  the 


S89 


THE   LIVm   OF    PONTIAO    ANU   TICni'MSKIi: 


hogs  and  cattle,  amounting  to  over  one  hundred  head.  By  the 
burning  of  the  blockhouse  the  garrison  were  deprived  of  all 
their  provisions  and  were  compelled  to  live  upon  green  corn 
until  relief  came. 

Meanwhile,  extensive  preparations  were  going  on  in  Ohio, 
Kentucky,  Virginia,  und  Pennsylvania,  to  bring  a  large  and 
efficient  army  into  service — a  force  that  would  compel  the 
Britisli  to  retire,  and  subjugate  the  savages.  Three  points 
needed  defence,  Fort  Wayne  and  the  Maumee,  the  Wabash,  and 
the  Illinois  river:  the  troops  destined  for  the  first  point  were 
to  be  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Winchester,  a  revolutionary 
officer;  those  for  the  Wabash  were  to  be  under  Harrison,  whose 
name  since  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  was  familiar  everywhere; 
while  Governoi  Edwards,  of  the  Illinois  Territory,  was  to  com- 
mand the  expedition  up  the  river  of  the  same  name.  Such 
were  the  intentions  of  the  Government,  but  the  wishes  of  the 
people  frustrated  them,  and  led,  first,  to  the  appointment  of 
Harrison  to  the  command  of  the  Kentucky  volunteers,  destined 
to  assist  Hull's  army,  and  next  to  his  elevation  to  the  post  of 
commander-in-chief  over  all  the  forces  of  the  west  and  north- 
west, as  already  observed.  Mean  tine  Fort  Wayne  had  been 
relieved,  and  the  line  of  the  Maumee  secured;  so  that  when 
Harrison  found  himself  placed  at  the  head  of  military  affairs 
in  the  West,  his  main  objects  were,  first,  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  western  side  of  the  Detroit  river;  second,  to  take  Mai- 
den; and  third,  having  thus  secured  his  communications,  to 
recapture  the  Michigan  Territory  and  its  dependencies.  To  do 
all  this  before  winter,  and  thus  be  prepared  to  conquer  Upper 
Canada,  Harrison  proposed  to  take  possession  of  the  rapids  of 
the  Maumee  and  there  to  concentrate  his  forces  and  his  stores; 
in  moving  upon  this  point  he  divided  his  troops  into  three  col- 
umns, the  right  to  march  from  Wooster  through  Upper  San- 
dusky, the  centre  from  Urbana,  by  Fort  McArthur,  on  the  head 
of  the  Scioto,  and  the  left  from  St.  Mary's  by  the  Auglaize 
and  Maumee, — all  meeting  of  course  at  the  Rapids.  This  plan, 
however,  failed;  the  troops  of  the  left  column,  under  Win- 
chester,* worn  out  and  starred,  were  found  on  the  verge  of 

*  Peck's  compilation. 


OK,   TIIK  IIORDKR   WARS  OF  TWO   OKNTURIES. 


288 


mutiny,  and  the  mounted  men  of  the  centre,  under  Gen.  Tup- 
per,  were  unable  to  do  anytliin^,  partly  from  their  own  want 
of  eiibordi nation,  but  Btill  more  from  the  Bhiftlessness  of  their 
commander.*  This  condition  of  the  troops,  and  the  prevalence 
of  disease  among  them,  together  with  the  increasing  difficulty 
of  transportation  after  the  fall  freshets,  forced  the  commander 
to  the  necessity  of  waiting  until  the  winter  had  bridged  the 
streams  and  swamps  with  ice,  and  even  when  that  had  taken 
place,  he  was  doubtful  as  to  the  wisdom  of  an  attempt  to  con- 
quer without  a  naval  force  on  Lake  Erie.  Thus  it  will  bo  seen 
tlie  year  1812  closed,  leaving  the  British  and  Indians  in  posses- 
sion of  their  conquests.  Winchester,  with  the  left  wing  of  the 
army,  was  on  his  way  to  the  Hapids,  his  men  enfeebled  by 
sickness,  want  of  clothes  and  want  of  food;  the  right  wing  was 
approaching  Sandusky,  and  the  centre  resting  at  Fort  McArthnr. 

In  December,  however.  Gen.  Harrison  dispatched  a  party  of 
six  hundred  against  the  Miami  villages  upon  theMississineway, 
a  branch  of  the  "Wabash.  This  body,  under  the  command  of 
Lieut.-Col.  Campbell,  destroyed  several  villages,  and  fought  a 
severe  battle  with  the  Indians,  who  were  defeated;  but  the 
scerity  of  the  weather,  the  large  number  of  the  wounded,  the 
scarcity  of  provisions,  and  the  probability  of  being  attacked  by 
Tecumseh  at  the  head  of  six  hundred  warriors,  induced  Col. 
Campbell  to  retreat  immediately  after  the  battle,  without 
destroying  the  principal  towns  of  the  enemy. 

Winchester  reached  the  Rapids  with  his  troops  on  the  tenth 
of  January,  1813.  Harrison  was  still  at  Sandusky  with  the 
right  wing,  and  Tupper  with  the  centre  at  Fort  McArthnr. 


\. 


♦  McAfee. 


i 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


Thb  War  or  1812  —  Defeat  at  Frbnohtown  —  Groohan's  Heroio 
Drfenbe  of  Fort  8tepuekm>n  — Defeat  of  the  Americans— 
Preparations  for  a  New  Camtaign  —  Perry's  Victort  —  Har. 
rison's  TRraMPH — The  Indians  Subdued— The  English  Defeated 
—  Close  of  the  War. 

WiNOHESTER  was  now  besieged  with  messengers  from  French* 
town,  on  the  Kiver  Raisin,  representing  the  danger  to  which 
that  place  was  exposed,  and  begging  for  protection.  Agreea- 
bly to  these  requests.  Col.  Lewis  was  dispatched  with  five 
hundred  men  to  the  River  Raisin,  and  soon  after  Col.  Allen 
followed  with  over  one  hundred  more.  This  was  in  January, 
18 13.  Marching  along  the  frozen  borders  of  the  bay  and  lake, 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  eighteenth,  the  detachment  reached 
and  attacked  the  enemy  who  were  posted  in  the  village,  and 
after  a  severe  contest  defeated  them.  Having  gained  posses- 
sion of  the  town,  Col.  Lewis  wrote  for  reinforcements,  and 
prepared  to  defend  the  possession  he  had  gained.  And  it  was 
evident  that  all  his  means  of  defense  would  be  needed,  as  the 
place  was  but  eighteen  miles  from  Maiden,  where  the  whole 
British  force  was  collected  under  Proctor.  Winchester,  on  the 
nineteenth,  having  heard  of  the  action  of  the  previous  day, 
marched  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  which  was  the  most 
he  dared  detach  from  the  Rapids,  to  the  aid  of  the  qaptor  of 
Frenchtown,  which  place  he  reached  on  the  next  evening.  But 
instead  of  placing  his  men  in  a  secure  position,  and  taking 
measures  to  prevent  the  secret  approach  of  the  enemy,  Win- 
chester suffered  the  troops  he  had  brought  with  him  to  remain 
in  the  open  ground,  and  took  no  efficient  measures  to  protect 
himself  from  surprise,  although  informed  that  an  attack  might 
be  expected  at  any  moment.    The  consequence  was  that  during 

(284) 


OK,  THK    BORDKR   WAK8  OF  TWO  GEOT'ORIBS. 


286 


the  ni^ht  of  the  twenty-first,  the  whole  British  force  approached 
nndiscoverod,  and  erected  a  battery  within  three  hundred  yards 
of  the  American  camp.  From  this,  before  the  troops  were 
fairly  under  arms  in  the  morning,  a  discharge  of  bombs,  balls 
and  grape  shot,  "  informed  the  devoted  soldiers  of  Winchester, 
of  the  folly  of  their  commander,  and  in  a  moment  more  the 
dreaded  Indian  yell  sounded  on  every  side."  Lewis'  troops 
were,  it  would  seem,  on  their  guard,  protected  by  the  pickets 
of  a  garden.  Those  under  Winchester  were  in  the  open  field,  and 
against  them  the  main  effort  of  the  enemy  was  directed.  In 
a  few  moments  Winchester's  troops  yielded,  broke  and  fied, 
under  a  fire  wliich  mowed  them  down  like  grass.  Winchester 
and  Lewis  were  both  taken  prisoners,  the  latter  having  left  his 
secnrity  to  aid  his  superior  officer.  Upon  Lewis'  troops, 
however,  who  fought  from  behind  their  slight  defenses,  no 
impression  could  be  made,  and  it  was  not  until  Winchester 
sent  them  advice  to  surrender  that  they  <;hought  of  doing  so.* 
ThJB  Proctor  persuaded  him  to  do,  by  telling  him  that  the 
Indians  would  massacre  all  the  Americans  should  resistance  be 
continued  longer.  To  this  he  added  a  promise  of  help  and 
protection  to  the  wounded,  and  of  a  removal  at  the  earliest 
moment.  It  was  only  in  consideration  of  the  last  promise  that 
Lewis'  troops  consented  to  yield,  even  when  required  by  their 
general.  "  But,"  says  Mr.  Peck,  "  the  promise,  even  if  given 
in  good  faith,  was  not  redeemed,  and  the  horrors  of  the  suc- 
ceeding night  and  day  will  long  be .  remembered."  Of  the 
American  army,  which  was  nearly  eight  hundred  strong,  one- 
third  were  killed  in  the  battle  and  the  massacre  which  followed, 
and  but  thirty-three  escaped. 

As  before  mentioned,  Gen.  Harrison  was  at  Sandusky  when 
Winchester  reached  the  Eapids.  On  the  night  of  the  sixteenth 
word  came  to  him  of  the  arrival  of  the  left  wing  at  that  point, 
and  of  its  meditated  movements.  He  at  once  proceeded  with 
all  speed  to  Lower  Sandusky,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  eigh- 
teenth, sent  forward  a  battalion  of  troops  to  the  support  of 
Winchester.  On  the  nineteenth,  he  received  farther  intelli- 
gence as  to  the  proposed  movement  of  Winchester,  and,  with 

*  Peck's  Compilation. 


386 


TIIE   rJVE8   OF   PONHAO   AND  TKOUMHKIi: 


vU 


additional  troops,  he  immediately  started  for  the  falb,  where  he 
arrived  early  on  the  morning  of  the  twentieth.  At  this  point 
he  joined  the  battalion,  which  had  started  before  him.  The 
troops  now  moved  forward  to  aid  Winchester,  but  meeting  a 
few  of  the  survivors  of  his  disaster,  and  learning  of  what  Imd 
taken  place,  they  returned  to  the  Hapids.  At  this  place  h  cuii- 
snltation  took  place,  the  result  of  which  was  a  determination 
to  retreat  yet  farther  in  order  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  being 
cut  off  from  the  convoys  of  stores  and  artillery  upon  their  way 
from  Sandusky.  On  the  next  morning,  therefore,  the  block- 
house, which  had  been  built,  was  destroyed,  together  with  the 
provisions  it  contained,  and  the  troops  retired  to  Portage  river, 
eighteen  miles  in  the  rear  of  Winchester's  position,  there  to 
await  the  guns  and  reinforcements  which  were  daily  expected, 
but  which,  as  it  turned  out,  were  detained  by  rains  until  the 
thirtieth  of  January.  Findihg  his  army  seventeen  hundred 
strong.  Gen.  Harrison,  on  the  first  of  February,  again  advanced 
to  the  Rapids,  where  he  took  up  a  new  and  stronger  position, 
at  which  point  he  ordered  all  the  troops  as  rapidly  as  possible 
to  gather.  He  did  this  in  the  hope  of  being  able  before  the 
middle  of  the  month  to  advance  upon  Maiden,  but  the  long 
continuance  of  warm  and  wet  weather  kept  the  roads  in  such 
a  condition  that  his  troops  were  unable  to  join  him,  and  the 
project  of  advancing  upon  the  ice  was  entirely  frustrated;  so 
at  length  the  winter  campaign  had  to  be  abandoned,  as  the 
autumnal  one  had  been  before. 

So  far  the  military  measures  for  the  recovery  of  the  North- 
west forts  had  proved  a  failure.  The  Americans  had  been 
defeated  at  almost  every  turn,  and  hundreds  of  them  had  fallen 
under  the  merciless  tomahawk.  Tecumseh  and  his  warriors, 
on  the  other  hand,  were  full  of  hope.  Victory  had  crowned 
their  efforts,  and  made  them  more  valuable  as  British  allies. 

But  while  these  discouraging  events  were  taking  place  in  the 
Northwest,  a  series  of  events  transpired  at  the  National  Cap- 
ital, which  was  preparing  the  way  for  another  campaign,  which 
was  destined  to  victory.  Gen.  Armstrong  had  succeeded  Dr. 
Eustis  in  the  War  Department,  and  in  October,  1812,  he  urged 
upon  the  government  the  great  necessity  of  obtaining  the 


OR,  THE  BORDER   WARS  OF  TWO  CENTURIES. 


287 


command  of  the  lakes.  Naval  operations  were  the  basis  of  hia 
plan.  Among  the  defensive  operations  of  the  spring  and  sum- 
mer  of  1813,  that  at  Fort  or  Camp  Meigs,  the  new  post  taken 
by  Harrison,^  at  the  Kapids,  and  that  at  Lower  Sandusky^ 
deserve  to  be  especially  noticed.  It  had  been  anitcipated  that, 
with  Mie  opening  of  spring,  the  British  would  attempt  the 
conquest  of  the  position  upon  the  Maumee,  and  measures  had 
been  taken  by  the  general  to  forward  reinforcements,  which 
were  detained,  however,  as  usual  by  the  spring  freshets  and  the 
bottomless  roads.  As  had  been  e.xpected,  on  the  twenty-eighth 
of  April,  the  English  forces  began  the  investment  of  Harrison's 
camp,  and  by  the  first  of  May  had  completed  their  batteries; 
meantime,  the  Americans  behind  their  tents  had  thrown  up  a 
bank  of  earth  twelve  feet  high,  and  upon  a  basis  of  twenty 
feet,  behind  which  the  whole  garrison  withdrew  the  moment 
that  the  gunners  of  the  enemy  were  prepared  to  commence 
operations.  Upon  this  bank,  the  ammunition  of  His  Majesty 
was  wasted  in  vain,  and  down  to  the  fifth,  nothing  was  efiected 
by  either  party.  On  that  day,  Gen.  Clay,  with  twelve  hundred 
additional  troops,  came  down  the  Maumee  in  flatboats,  and,  in 
accordance  with  orders  received  from  Harrison,  detached  eight 
hundred  men  under  Col.  Dudley  to  attack  the  batteries  upon 
the  left  bank  of  the  river,  while,  with  the  remainder  of  iiis 
forces,  he  landed  upon  the  southern  shore,  and  after  some  loss 
and  delay,  fought  his  way  into  camp.  Dudley,  on  his  part, 
succeeded  perfectly  in  capturing  the  batteries,  but  instead  of 
spiking  the  cannon,  and  then  instantly  returning  to  his  boats, 
he  Bufiered  his  men  to  waste  their  time  in  skirmish  with  the 
Indians,  until  Proctor  was  able  to  cut  them  off  from  their  only 
chance  of  retreat;  taken  by  surprise,  and  in  disorder,  the 
greater  part  of  the  detachment  became  an  easy  prey,  only  one 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  eight  hundred  escaping  captivity  or 
death.  This  sad  result  was  partially,  though  but  little  allevi- 
ated by  the  success  of  a  sortie  made  from  the  fort  by  Col. 
Miller,  in  which  he  captured  and  made  useless  the  batteries 
that  had  been  erected  south  of  the  Maumee.  The  result  of  the 
day's  doings  had  been  sad  enough  for  the  Americans,  but  still 

*  Mr.  Peck's  Compilation. 


n 

^ 


,:=> 


S88 


TIIR   I4VK8  OF    l>(>N'nAO    AND   TKCUMHKIC 


^ 


IK 


the  British  General  saw  in  it  nothing  to  oneourage  him;  his 
•cannon  had  done  nothing,  and  were  in  fact  no  longer  of  vahie, 
his  Indian  alliea  found  it  "  hard  to  fight  people  who  lived  like 
groundhogs;"  news  of  the  American  successes  below  had  been 
received,  and  additional  troops  were  approaching  from  Ohio 
And  Kentucky.  Proctor,  weighing  all  things,  determined  to 
retreat,  and  upon  the  ninth  of  May  returned  to  Maiden. 

The  ship-building  going  forward  at  Erie  had  not,  mean- 
-while,  been  unknown  to,  or  disregarded  by,  the  English,  who 
proposed  all  in  good  time  to  destroy  the  vessels  upon  which  so 
much  depended,  and  to  appropriate  the  stores  of  the  Republi- 
cans: "the  ordnance  and  naval  stores  you  require,"  said  Sir 
•George  Prevost  to  Gen.  Proctor,  "  must  be  taken  from  tlie 
•enemy,  whose  resources  on  Lake  Erie  must  become  yours.  I 
am  much  mistaken,  if  you  do  not  find  Gapt.  Barclay  disposed 
to  play  that  game."  Capt.  Barclay  was  an  experienced,  brave 
«nd  able  seaman,  and  was  waiting  anxiously  for  a  sufficient 
body  of  troops  to  attack  Erie.  A  sufficient  force  was  promised 
him,  on  the  eighteenth  of  July,  at  which  time  the  British  fleet 
went  down  the  lake  to  reconnoitre,  and,  should  a  favorable 
opportunity  be  presented,  to  make  the  proposed  attempt  upon 
the  Americans  at  Erie.  No  attack,  however,  was  made. 
About  the  same  time,  Proctor,  with  his  soldiers  and  savages, 
again  surrounded  Fort  Meigs,  but  accomplished  nothing. 
Being  unable  to  accomplish  anything  at  this  point,  he  moved 
^n  to  Sandusky,  into  the  neighborhood  of  the  commander-in- 
«hief.  The  principal  stores  of  Harrison  were  at  Sandusky, 
while  he  himself  was  at  Seneca.  Major  Groghan  commanded 
«t  Fort  Stephenson  or  Lower  Sandusky.*  This  latter  post 
being  deemed  indefensible  against  heavy  cannon,  and  it  being 
known  that  Proctor  was  approaching  with  artillery,  the  Gen- 
•eral  and  a  council  of  war,  called  by  him,  thought  it  best  to 
abandon  it;  but  before  this  could  be  done,  the  appearance  of 
the  enemy  upon  the  thirty-first  of  July,  1813,  made  it  impos- 
sible.    The  commandant  of  this  post  was  but  twenty-one  years 

*  I  depend,  in  this  portion  of  tlie  narrative,  very  materially  upon  the 
compilation  of  Mr.  Peck,  entitled  the  Western  Annals.  Published  by  Mr. 
Albach  at  St.  Louis,  in  1851. — Ed. 


UK,   THK  BOBDKR   WAK8  OF  TWO  OKNTURUB. 


889 


of  age,  and  tho  garrison  eonsigted  of  but  one  hundred  and  fit^y 
Boldiers.  There  was  within  the  tort  only  one  piece  of  cannon, 
and  the  fortifications  were  deemed  insecure.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  investing  force,  including  Tecumseh  and  his  warriors, 
waH  over  three  thousand  three  hundred  strong,  with  six  pieces 
of  artillery. 

Proctor  at  once  demanded  a  surrender,  and  told  Groghan 
that  unless  he  did  so  at  once  a  general  massacre  would  follow. 
To  this  the  daring  young  officer  replied  by  saying,  that  "the 
Indians  would  have  none  left  to  massacre,  if  the  British  con- 
quered, for  every  man  of  the  garrison  would  have  died  at  his 
post."  Proctor  at  once  opened  fire  upon  the  fort,  concentrat- 
ing his  aim  upon  the  northwest  angle  of  the  fort.  This  led 
Groghan  to  believe  that  the  British  intended  to  make  a  breach 
there,  and  carry  the  works  by  assault;  he,  therefore,  at  once 
proceeded  to  strengthen  that  point  by  bags  of  sand  and  flour, 
while  under  cover  of  night  he  placed  his  single  six  pounder  in 
a  position  to  rake  the  angle  threatened,  and  then,  having 
charged  his  infant  battery  with  sings,  and  hidden  it  from  the 
enemy,  he  waited  the  event.  During  the  night  of  the  first  of 
August,  and  till  late  in  the  evening  of  the  second,  the  firing 
continued  upon  the  devoted  northwest  corner;  then,  under 
cover  of  the  smoke  and  gathering  darkness,  a  column  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty  men  approached  unseen  to  within  twenty 
paces  of  the  walls.  The  musketry  opened  upon  them,  but  with 
little  effect.  The  ditch  was  gained,  and  in  a  moment  filled 
with  men:  at  that  instant,  the  masked  cannon,  only  thirty  feet 
distant,  and  so  directed  as  to  sweep  the  ditch,  was  unmasked 
and  fired,  killing  at  once  twenty-seven  of  the  assailants.  The 
effect  was  decisive,  the  column  recoiled,  and  the  little  fort  was 
saved  with  the  loss  of  one  man.  On  the  next  morning  the 
British  and  their  allies,  having  the  fear  of  Harrison  before  their 
eyes,  were  gone,  leaving  behind  them  in  their  haste,  guns, 
stores,  and  clothing. 

But  now  all  were  active,  preparing  for  the  attack  on  Maiden. 

Kentucky  sent  her  best  men  in  vast  numbers,  under  Governor 

Shelby  and  Richard  M.  Johnson,  and  on  the  fourth  of  August 

Perry  got  his  vessels  out  of  Erie  into  deep  water.     But  of  that 

19 


290 


THK    I.IVKH  OF    HJNTIAt!    AND   TKriMHKIi: 


(•ontoHt  we  need  say  notliiiijjr,  tor  Perry's  victory  has  become  a 
houHehoId  word  tliron^hont  Atnerica. 

Meanwhile  the  American  army  had  rc(;eived  reinforcements, 
an<l  waH  only  awaiting  tho  expected  victory  of  Commodore 
Perry,  tt)  eml)ark.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of  September,  it  get 
Hail  for  tho  ahores  of  Canada,  and  in  a  few  hoiirx  Htmnl  around 
the  ruins  of  the  deaerttnl  and  wasted  Maiden,  from  which  Proc- 
tor had  retreated  to  Sandwich,  intending  to  make  Imh  way  to 
to  the  heart  of  Canada,  by  the  valley  of  the  Thamen  *  On 
the  twenty-ninth  tiarrison  was  at  Stindwich,  and  McAr- 
thur  took  possession  of  Detroit  and  the  territory  of  Mich- 
igan. At  this  point  (Jol.  Johnson's  mounted  rifle  regiment, 
which  had  gone  up  the  west  side  of  the  river,  rejoinjd 
the  main  army.  On  the  second  of  October,  the  Americans 
began  their  march  in  pursnit  of  Proctor,  whom  they  overtook 
upon  the  fifth.  He  had  posted  his  army  with  its  left  resting 
upon  the  river,  wliile  the  right  flank  was  defended  by  a  marsh; 
the  ground  between  the  river  and  the  marsh  was  divided  length- 
wise by  a  smaller  swamp,  so  as  to  make  two  distinct  flelds  in 
which  the  troops  were  to  operate.  The  British  were  in  two 
lines,  occupying  the  field  between  the  river  and  small  swamp; 
the  Indians  extended  from  the  small  to  the  large  morass,  tiie 
ground  being  suitable  to  their  mode  of  warfare,  and  unfavora- 
ble for  cavalry.  Harrison  ordered  ('ol.  Johnson  with  his 
mounted  men  to  charge,  and  try  to  break  the  regular  troopft, 
by  passing  through  their  ranks  and  forming  in  their  rear.  In 
arranging  to  do  this,  Johnson  found  the  space  between  the 
river  and  small  swamp  too  narrow  for  all  his  men  to  act  in 
with  effect;  so,  dividing  them,  he  gave  the  right  hand  body 
opposite  the  regulars  in  charge  to  his  brother  James,  while 
crossing  the  swamp  with  the  remainder,  he  himself  led  the  way 
against  Tecumseh  and  his  savage  followers.  Tlie  charge  ot 
James  Johnson  was  perfectly  successful.  The  Kcntuckians 
received  the  tire  of  the  enemy,  broke  through  their  ranks,  and 
forming  beyond  them,  "produced  such  a  panic  by  the  novelty 
of  the  attack  that  the  whole  body  of  troops  yielded  at  once." 
On  the  left  the  Indians  fought  courageously,  and  the  American 

*  McAfee,  824  to  328— Western  Annals. 


OK,  TIIK    HOKDKK    WAKH  oK   TWO   (IKNTirKIM. 


201 


boraerncn  were  forced  to  dismount ;  hut  in  a  few  moment! 
TecuinBch,  tlio  great  Shawanoe  chieftain,  who,  more  than  any 
other  man  brought  about  this  war,  fell  dead.  He  was  pierced 
bj  a  bullet  either  from  the  Americans  or  from  liis  own  fol- 
lowerti  who  become  enraged  at  his  defeat.  Tlie  exact  source  of 
his  death  is  a  mntter  of  dispute.  The  Indians  were  now  discon- 
certed. Tliey  soon  gave  up  the  cx)nteBt,  and  now  all  was  over 
except  the  pursuit  of  Proctor, 'who  had  tied  at  the  beginning 
of  the  engagement.  Such  were  the  glorious  victories  of  our 
arms  over  the  British  and  the  Indians.  Commodore  Perry  had 
been  triumphant  on  Lake  Erie,  and  the  scarcely  less  brave  Uar- 
riBon  conqtierer  in  the  battle  of  the  Tliames. 

This  last  contest  practically  closed  the  war  in  the  Northwest. 
Tecumseh  having  fallen,  the  Indians  lost  their  power  and  pres- 
tige, and  the  British  having  been  thoroughly  defeated,  gave  but* 
little  trouble  at^terwards. 

However,  the  Americans  made  one  unsuccessful  attempt  to 
invade  Canada  atWwards.  They  also  failed  in  an  expedition 
against  the  British  at  Mackinac.  Meanwhile,  upon  the  twenty- 
second  of  July,  1814,  a  treaty  had  been  formed  at  Greenville, 
under  the  direction  of  Gen.  Harrison  and  Governor  Cass,  by 
which  the  United  States  and  the  faithful  Wyandots,  Delawares, 
Siiawanoes,  and  Senecas,  gave  peace  to  the  Miamis,  Weas,  and 
Eel  river  Indians,  and  to  certain  of  the  Pottawatomies,  Otta- 
was,  and  Kickapoos;  and  all  the  Indians  engaged  to  aid  the 
Americans  should  the  war  with  Great  Britain  continue.  But 
such,  happily,  was  not  to  be  the  cAse,  and  on  the  twenty-fourth 
of  December,  the  treaty  of  Ghent  was  signed  by  the  representa- 
tives of  England  and  the  United  States. 


\H 


CHAPTER    XXXVl. 


The  LirK  and  Timrh  or  Black  Hawk  — Di.aok  Hawk  DivriNomiRii 
IIiMHKi.K  AH  A  WAUHiun— Black  Hawk  Joimb  tuu  Uritinu  — Tui 
Bach    Ohivkn    Dktond  tiir    MiBHinttirri  —  BijiCK   Hawk    Ubmor. 

BTUATKH  —  DKHCIlirTION    09   TUB    PHIHCirAL  Bau   ViLLAOK    AT    liOOI 
ItlVKH. 

We  will  now  turn  onr  course  westward  to  the  more  recent, 
and  perhaps  the  more  interesting  incidents  of  border  warfare 
in  that  direction.  The  life  and  times  of  Black  Hawk  will  next 
engage  the  reader's  attention.  One  writer  has  truthfully  said, 
*'  Black  Hawk  may  die,  his  name  may  be  forgotten,  and  tlio 
smoke  of  his  wigwam  be  seen  no  more,  but  'The  Black  Hawk 
War'  will  long  form  a  page  of  deep  interest  in  the  history 
of  this  country." 

Black  Hawk,  the  Sac  chieftain,  was  born  at  the  principal 
Sao  village  on  Rock  river,  in  the  year  1707.  As  with  tnany 
ether  distinguished  warriors,  he  was  not  a  chief's  son,  but  rose 
to  that  station  through  his  own  ability.  At  the  early  age  of 
fifteen  he  distinguished  himself  l)y  killing  an  enemy,  and  was 
at  once  permitted  to  paint  himself  after  the  custom  of  the  Sac 
braves.  At  a  later  day  he  was  also  permitted  to  wear  feathers 
according  to  the  ancient  customs  of  his  tribe. 

Ah  early  as  1783,  he  united  in  an  expedition  against  the 
Osages,  and  had  the  high  fortune  to  kill  several  of  the  enemy. 
For  this  brave  act  he  was  now  permitted,  for  the  first  time,  to 
join  in  the  scalp  dance.  Subsequently  he  became  the  leader 
of  a  small  band  of  his  own  tribe,  and  again  performed  actH  of 
great  valor.  His  band  was  soon  increased,  and  presently  he 
found  himself  at  *\ie  head  of  more  than  a  hundred  braves. 
With  this  band  he  marched  to  an  Osage  village  on  the  Mis- 
eonri,  bat  finding  it  deserted,  most  of  his  followers  became  die* 

(292) 


OR,  THR    HriRDKR    WARM  Of  TWO  flKMTURIKt. 


9^8 


couragoil  Htid  roturnod  home.  Dlaok  Hawk,  however,  with  onljr 
Imlf  A  dozun  followoni,  puniuod  tiio  enemy,  and  after  leveral 
(ittvV  inarch,  fiuccoodod  in  overtaking  a  Hiniill  party  and  killing 
out'  man  and  a  Ixiy.  Securing  their  «ealps,  lie  returned  homo, 
l)eing  gr«utu<l  with  additional  ruspoot. 

In  17H((  ho  svaii  again  marching  at  the  head  of  two  hundred 
bruvvM  into  the  country  of  the  unemy.  On  this  occasion  he 
met  a  party  quite  tMiual  to  h'm  own  in  numberH,  and  a  battlu 
took  place  in  which  he  wan  viotoriouB,  having  killed  one 
hundred  and  losing  only  nineteen.  Nearly  a  score  of  the  enemy 
full  by  his  own  hand.  This  successful  event  had  a  two-fold 
reHult — that  of  keeping  the  Usages  in  check  and  winning  glory 
for  IMack  tiawk.  The  Sacs,  with  this  bravo  at  their  head,  now 
turned  their  attention  to  the  Gherokees,  who  had  committed 
several  depredations  upon  them.  A  battle  was  fought  between 
tiieHe  tribes  upon  the  Merrimack  river,  beiow  St.  Louis,  in 
which  Ulaek  Hawk's  father  was  killed,  but  the  Cherokees  wen* 
defeute<l  and  compelled  to  retreat  with  a  loss  of  twenty-eight 
men,  the  Sacs  losing  but  seven. ^  So  great  was  his  success  at 
this  battle  that  he  was  immediately  promoted  to  the  high 
Btation  of  chief. 

In  the  year  1800,  "  he  made  another  excursion,"  says  Mr. 
Gonclin,  '^ against  theOsages,  at  the  head  of  about  five  hundfid 
SacB  and  Foxes,  and  a  hundred  lowas,  who  had  joined  him  as 
allicM.  After  a  long  march  they  reached  and  destroyed  about 
forty  lodges  of  the  enemy,  killing  many  of  their  bravest  war- 
riors, live  of  whom  were  slain  by  the  leader  of  the  invading 
army."  In  1802,  he  waged  a  successful  war  against  the 
Ghippewas,  Ivaskaskias  and  Osagcs,  killing  over  one  hundred 
warriors. 

In  1803,  Black  Hawk  made  a  visit  to  St.  Louis,  to  see  his 
"Spanish  father."  He  was  well  received,  but  found  many  sad 
faces  because  the  United  States  were  about  to  take  possession 
of  their  country.  Soon  after,  Lieut.  Pike  visited  the  camp  of 
Black  Hawk,  made  several  presents,  and  delivered  a  speech  to 
the  Sacs,  telling  them  that  their  American  father  would  treat 
them  well.  He  presented  them  with  an  American  flag,  which 
was  hoisted,  and  requested  them  to  pull  down  the  British  flag 


— * 

3 


S)94 


TIIK    I.IVI«    or    III.AdK    HAWK    AND   KMitKI'IC: 


I 


Riid  f^ivn  him  tli^ir  HritUh  miHUU,  promiMiti);  tn  ^ivi!  tlii>m 
othunt  from  i\wir  Aim>ricHn  fntlirr.  TIiIm,  li«»wfvi>r,  Itliick  lUvvk 
de(!line<l,  nnviiiK  ll><^'  '>>'*  |HH>plu  wiiiliiMl  to  linvo  two  tatliifm. 

Soon  AtYvr,  tUv  hiiiliiingof  Fort  KdwanU  nonr  t\w  livud  of 
tho  Doit  Moiiu^M  nipitlN,  f^w  grtmt  iinuANiiiuM  tu  tliu  Hiicii.  Tlinv 
•ent  a  (lopiitntioii  tt»  tlint  |)oint,  which  rutunie<l  with  uiiMntiit. 
fatrtory  reportM.  Hliick  Hawk  now  plactHl  hiniMitlf  at  th»  'ii'inl 
of  a  Htnni^  forcn  and  inarchtHl  to  Fort  Madiiton,  which  hIinhI 
on  the  weAt  Imnk  of  th»  MiHMiNMippi,  Home  diiitancu  dowii  tlu) 
DvH  MoinoM.  Thit)  fort  wait  f^arriHontxi  witli  alnMit  fifty  itu«ii. 
Black  ilawkV  ttpicM  having  aMcurtainud  that  tlie  Hojilii'n 
marched  out  of  the  fort  every  morning  for  cxurcitic,  he  deter. 
mined  tucorutMil  liiH  pitrty  near  the  place  and  Hh(M)t  tliem  down. 
On  the  morning  of  tiio  pn)[M>Hud  attack  neveral  HoldierH  detiled 
ont  up<m  tlie  plain,  and  three  of  their  nundwr  waH  inHtiintly 
shot  down.  The  IndianH  then  (titened  tire  iiiH)n  the  fort,  hut 
being  unable  to  accompliHli  anything  in  tluH  way  they  returti«><l 
to  their  village. 

Upon  the  opening  of  the  war  of  1812,  the  8hch  tondere<I  tlieir 
serviceM  to  the  United  States,  but  their  offer  waH  declined. 
They  had  not  been  as  liberally  BUppliiMl  with  prenentH  l»y  the 
Americans  m  they  hud  anticipate<l,  and  in  the  meantime  tlie 
BritiHh  agentn  liad  "artfully  fomented  their  dincontcnt,  and 
labored  to  win  their  confidence  by  the  mo»t  liberal  diBtribution 

it 

among  them  of  goods  and  ardent  spirits.*'  Soon  after  tlie 
declaration  of  war  a  British  trader  appeared  among  them  with 
two  boats  loaded  with  goo<ls.  The  British  flag  was  imine<Ji- 
ately  hoisted,  and  tho  trader  told  Black  I[awk  that  ho  had 
been  sent  by  Col.  Dixon,  who  was  then  at  (Jreen  Bay,  with  a 
large  quantity  of  goods,  and  who  was  desirous  that  the  Sac 
chietlain  should  raise  a  party  of  warriors  and  join  him.  Black 
Hawk  had  but  little  difficulty  in  raising  two  hundred  braves. 
At  the  head  of  this  band  he  marched  to  (Jreen  Bay,  where  he 
found  Col.  Uixoii  e:icam})ed  with  a  large  body  of  Indiaiin  from 
various  tribes,  who  had  already  been  furnished  with  arms  and 
ammunition. 

Dixon  received  Black  Hawk  with  many  marks  of  respect, 
told  him  that  the  English  were  about  to  drive  the  Americaiu 


0»,   THK    WJMrwKIt    WAHB  tif  TWM  l<imTtrRIM. 


9ftA 


tyiMii  tli«*ir  liiiiitiii^  /riMiniU,  aiii<)  ^>litriti^  <i  uwiln}  ulMtiit  hiit 
lu'ik  III'  >*iii«i,  "you  Hi'f  t(  ,  "iMiimiif)  tall  th*^  l»riivt*«  tlint  will 
l»'u\««  lu'H'  t\w  flay  urtiT  to  <»H»n<(W  t«»  join  c^iir  l>rHv»»*  uvnr 
jh'troit."  AriiiH,  clotliin^,  kiuv««>  »ri«l  toinnhitwkit  wef(<  »<>w 
<liMtril>ut(*<|  uiiMMi^  jiliu'k  iliiuk'n  Imtxl,  nw\  at  tli<*  n|i|N)iMti><l 
tiini'  Hvtt  liun<lr(*<|  wiirriorrt  li*t>  (trt>«'ii  Khv  oh  tlit  ir  imtrfli  to 
pt'troit  to  join  tlio  Hrititth  nrniy.  Thiit  nvhm  in  Aii^iiHt,  tHltf, 
uliiiitly  iit1:er  tliu  niUMHucn*  iit  Fort  DciirlNtrii. 

KliK'k  lluwk  wiut  iiMMiK'coMHf'ul  umoii^  tlu>  MritiHh,  hihI  l»«>in^ 
tin'<l  with  HUctt>MHiv(>  «U'tt'utH  liu  ri'turiiiHl  to  hiit  villu^t'  on  Kofk 
rivir,  wliuro,  in  all  |>rolinl>iJity,  hit  would  iiiivit  nunuiinul  nt>u- 
tml  liud  it  n(»t  hwu  tor  t\w  tiiunier  of  liiH  luiopttKl  hoii.  My 
this  liiwIuHM  net  lit!  wuM  iiguin  rouHud  t«>  von^funce  iifj^iunHt  tli(« 
Aiiit>ri(;uiiit,  iind  iiftcr  rcnuiinin^  h  t'(>w  <iuyt«  ut  tlio  villiifjfe,  imd 
misiii^  n  Imnd  of  hruviw,  itrt^purtxl  for  ot)unMivt>  o|K*riitioni«  n|M)n 
the  frontierH.  Tho  pnrty, coiiiiiHtin^  of  Hlniut  thirty.  d«>H(>«>nd«H| 
the  MiHHiHHippi  in  canoi'H  to  tho  Hititof  old  Kort  MudiHon,  which 
hml  Imuii  Hlmnd«»n(Mi  by  tlu*  Aint^rican  triHipHund  burniMl.  Von- 
tinning  thoir  e«)urHu  tlu>y  hiiidiMl  nmr  (>Hp  uu  (IIm,  whcro  th««y 
killtMJ  one  of  the  UnittHl  HtiiteH  rim^erH,  hut  were  tiiuilly  dirt- 
|)«rri(>d  Ity  H  detiiolunent  from  Fort  Howard.  The  Indians, 
liowt'ver,  retunuHl  fn  tb«  mnteMt  and  a  battle  euHued  between 
HJHck  Iliiwk'n  party  an<l  the  troopH  of  Fort  Howard,  under 
Lieut.  Drakeford  of  the  United  HtatoH  Uan^erH.  In  tluH  battle 
the  AnicricanH  loHt  ten  kille<l  and  Heveral  wounded,  the  loss 
b('iti<(  about  equal  on  lH>th  nideH. 

Ill  lh|5,  when  the  IndiatiH  along  the  Mi8iiiBHi])pi  valley  had 
Ih'cu  notified  of  the  peace  Iwtween  tlie  United  StatcH  aiul  Kng- 
luiid,  they,  for  the  numt  part,  ceaHcd  liostilitieH;  but  lilaek  Hawk 
ami  liii*  bund,  and  t»onie  of  the  Pottawatoniiet*,  were  not  inclined 
to  live  in  peace.  In  tlie  spring  of  181rt  they,  in  connection  with 
the  British,  captured  the  garrison  at  Prairie  du  (Miien,  ajid 
attacked  some  boats  that  were  ascending  the  Mississippi  to  that 
point  with  troops  and  provisions.  One  of  the  boats  was  cap- 
tured and  several  of  the  crew  killed.  The  Imats  were  compelled 
to  return.  In  181H,  however.  Black  Hawk  and  his  tribe  con- 
duded  a  peace  with  the  Americans,  by  which  the  hatchet  was 


296 


THK    UVV»  OV   m.\CK    HAWK    AND   KKOKUK! 


l)uried  ;  and  now,  wo  hear  but  littlo  of  this  wonderful  Irdian 
until  tlie  hostilities  which  broke  out  in  1832. 

Soon  after  this  treaty  the  United  States  government  built 
Fort  Armstrong,  upon  Kock  Island,  in  the  Mississippi  river, 
•ind  but  a  few  miles  from  the  Indian  village  where  Jiiuek  Hawk 
resided.  The  Sae  Indians  were  jeajus  of  this  movement,  lor 
they  loved  to  look  upon  Rock  Island  as  one  of  their  choicfcst 
resorts.  They  had  a  traditionary  belief  that  this  island  was 
the  favorite  residence  of  a  good  spirit  which  dwelt  in  a  cavo  in 
the  rocks  on  which  Fort  Armstrong  was  afterwards  built. 
This  spirit  had  often  been  seen  by  the  Indians,  but  after  the 
erection  of  the  fort,  alarmed  by  its  noise  and  intrusion  of  the 
wliite  man,  it  spread  its  beautiful  wings  and  de]><irted. 

In  the  autumn  of  1818,  Black  Hawk  and  some  of  his  band 
went  on  a  visit  to  their  British  father  at  Maiden,  and  received 
many  presents  from  him.  A  medel  was  given  to  Black  Hawk 
for  his  fidelity  to  the  British,  and  he  Avas  requested  to  make 
annual  visits  with  his  band,  and  receive  such  presents  as  liad 
been  promised  him  by  Col.  Dixon  in  1812.  These  visits  were 
regularly  made  down  to  1830.  In  the  latter  year  Black  Hawk 
and  his  party  encamped  at  two- rivers  for  the  purpose  of  hunt- 
ing, and  while  there  was  so  badly  treated  by  some  white  men, 
that  his  prejudices  against  the  Americans  were  greatly  revived. 

In  the  ensuing  summer  the  Americans  urged  the  wiiole  of 
the  Sacs  and  Foxes  to  remove  to  the  west  side  of  the  iMissis- 
sippi.  Tliis  policy  was  urged  upon  them  by  the  agent  at  P'ort 
Armstrong.  The  principal  Fox  chief,  and  several  of  the  Sac 
chiefs,  among  whom  was  Keokuk,  assented  to  the  removal. 
The  latter  sent  a  message  through  the  village  informing  the 
Indians  that  it  was  the  wish  of  their  great  father,  the  Presi- 
dent, that  they  siiou'd  all  go  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  he  pointed  out  tlie  Iowa  river  as  a  suitable  place  for  their 
new  village.  There  was  a  pai'ty  among  the  Sacs  called  the 
"British  I'and,"  who  were  bitterly  o])poHed  to  a  removal;  and 
they  appealed  to  their  old  leader,  Black  Hawk,  for  his  decision 
on  the  question,  lie  claimed  the  ground  on  which  their  vil- 
lage stood  had  never  been  sold,  and  that,  therefore,  the  Ameri- 
cans had  no  I'iglit  to  insist  upon  the  measure. 


BLACKHAWK,  THE  SAC  CHIEFTAIN. 


I 


OK,  THE  BORDRB  WAKH  OF   TWO  OENTURIES. 


297 


Black  Hawk  was  now  becoming  old,  and  he  felt  that  his 
power  in  the  tribe  was  waning  before  tlie  rising  popularity  of 
Keokuk,  his  rival.  He  now  resolved  to  place  himself  at  the 
head  of  a  band,  and,  if  possible,  recover  his  influence. 

However,  during  the  following  winter,  while  Black  Hawk 
and  his  party  were  absent  on  a  hunting  expedition,  several 
white  families  arrived  at  their  village,  destroyed  some  of  their 
lodges,  and  commenced  making  fences  over  their  cornfields. 
As  soon  as  the  old  Sac  chieftain  heard  of  this  movement,  he 
promptly  returned  to  Rock  Island,  where  he  found  his  own 
lodge  occupied  by  the  whites.  He  next  went  to  Fort  Arm- 
strong and  made  complaint  to  the  interpreter,  the  agent  being 
absent.  He  next  visited  the  prophet,  Wabokiesheik,  or  White 
(yloud,  whose  opinions  were  held  in  much  respect  by  the  Sacs. 
This  distinguished  man  urged  Black  Hawk  not  to  remove,  but 
to  persuade  Keokuk  and  his  party  to  return  to  Rock  river. 

Black  Hawk  now  returned  to  his  hunting  party,  and  in  the 
spring  when  the  band  returned  to  their  village  they  found  the 
white  settlers  still  there,  in  possession  of  their  lodges  and  corn- 
fields. About  the  same  time  Keokuk  visited  Rock  river,  and 
did  all  in  his  power  to  persuade  the  remainin^^  Sacs  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  new  village  on  the  Iowa,  but  Black  Hawk 
said  it  would  be  an  act  of  cowardice  to  yield  up  their  village 
and  the  graves  of  their  fathers  to  strangers,  who  had  no  right 
to  the  soil.  Keokuk's  influence  was  exerted  in  vain  and  he 
returned  to  the  western  village. 

The  settlers  began  to  increase,  and  it  would  seem  that  the 
Sac  village  on  Rock  river  was  the  principal  point  of  attrac- 
tion. At  this  place  the  Sacs  had  had  their  principal  village 
for  more  than  seventy  years.  Tlieir  women  had  broken  the 
surface  of  the  surrounding  prairies  with  their  hoes  and  inclosed 
with  a  kind  of  pole-fence  many  fields  which  were  annually 
cultivated  by  them  in  the  raising  of  com,  beans  and  squashes. 
They  had  also  erected  several  hundred  houses  of  various  dimen- 
sions, some  probably  one  hundred  feet  in  length  by  forty  or 
fifty  feet  broad,  which  were  constructed  of  poles  and  forks, 
arranged  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  frame,  which  was  then  in- 
closed with  the  bark  of  trees,  which,  being  pealed  off  and 


208 


THE   LIVKg   OF   DLAOR   HAWK    AND   KEOKUK : 


dried  under  u  wei^jlit,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  it  ex])an<led, 
was  afterwiirds  coiiHne*!  to  tlio  walls  and  roof  by  moans  of 
cords  conipose<l  of  the  bark  of  other  trees.  This  was,  ind»!ed, 
a  delightful  spot.  On  the  northwest  rolled  the  majestic  Mis- 
sissippi, while  the  dark  forests  which  clothed  the  islaml  of 
liock  river,  with  its  several  rippling  streams  on  the  south  const, 
formed  a  delightful  contrast  which  was  rendered  still  more 
pleasing  from  the  general  declivity  of  the  surrouniling  country 
as  it  sinks  gradually  away  to  the  shores  of  these  rivers.  This 
ancient  village  literally  became  the  graveyard  of  the  Sac 
nation.  Stnircely  an  individual  could  be  found  in  the  whole 
nation  who  had  not  deposited  the  remains  of  some  relatives  in 
or  near  to  this  place.  Thither  the  mother,  with  mournful  and 
melancholy  step,  annually  repaired  to  pay  a  tribute  of  respect 
to  her  departed  offspring,  while  the  weeping  sisters  and  loud 
lamenting  widows  joined  the  procession  of  grief,  sometimes 
in  accordance  with  their  own  feelings,  no  doubt,  but  always  in 
pursuance  of  an  established  custom  of  their  nation  from  time 
immemorial.  On  these  occasions  they  carefully  cleared  away 
every  spear  of  grass  or  other  vegetable  which  they  found 
growing  near  the  graves,  and  made  such  repairs  as  seemed 
necessary.  They  also  carried  to  the  grave  some  kind  of  food 
which  they  left  for  the  spirit  of  the  deceased,  and  before  they 
concluded  these  ceremonies  they  often,  in  a  very  melancholy 
and  lamenting  mood,  addressed  the  dead,  inquiring  how  they 
fared,  and  who,  or  whether  any  one  performed  for  them  the 
kind  offices  of  mother,  sister  or  wife,  together  with  many  other 
inquiries  wdiich  a  frantic  imagination  happened  to  suggest. 
This  being  one  of  the  most  important  religious  duties,  was 
scrupulously  observed  by  all  the  better  class  of  this  people.* 

♦  Chronicle  of  North  American  Savages. 


h 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 


(I 


DiKKicni.TiES  Bktwkkn  BiiACK  Hawk  and  thk  SETTLRnu  at  Rock 
UivKii  —  A  Mii.iTAiiY  FoiicR  (!allkd  out  Ttt  Ukmove  the  Sao 
iNorANB  Webt  ok  tue  MirtBiBsippi  —  Hketch  of  Keokuk  —  His 
BuAVERY,  Sagacity  and  Eloquence. 

Thk  settlkhs  who  establislied  themselves  at  Kock  river,  in 
violation  of  the  laws  of  Congress,  and  the  provisions  of  all 
treaties,  committed  various  aggressions  upon  the  Indians,  such 
as  destroying  their  corn,  killing  their  domestic  animals,  and 
whipping  the  women  and  children.*  They  took  with  theni  as 
articles  of  traffic,  whisky  and  other  liquors,  and  by  distribut- 
ing it  among  the  savages,  produced  all  the  horrors  of  debauchery. 
Black  Hawk  remonstrated  against  this,  and,  upon  one  occasion, 
he,  with  two  of  his  companions  entered  one  of  the  houses 
where  the  liquor  was  kept,  rolled  out  a  barrel  of  whisky,  broke 
in  the  head  and  emptied  the  contents  upon  the  ground.  Thus 
matters  continued  for  several  years.  The  settlers  were  pushing 
their  claims  in  defiance  of  the  rights  of  the  Indians,  and  the 
latter  could  obtain  no  redress.  According  to  the  treaty  which 
defined  the  rights  and  wrongs  of  this  matter,  "  as  long  as  the 
lands  which  are  now  ceded  to  the  United  States  remain  their 
property,  the  Indians  belonging  to  said  tribes  shall  enjoy  the 
privilege  of  living  and  hunting  upon  them."  None  of  the 
lands  in  the  vicinity  of  Rock  river  were  brought  into  market 
by  the  United  States  until  the  year  1829.  Previous  to  this 
date,  of  course,  the  white  settlers  there  were  tresspassers  of 
tlie  law  and  of  justice.  In  the  latter  year,  however,  a  tract  of 
land  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hock  river,  including  the  Sac  village, 
was  sold.  This  was  done  with  a  view  of  removing  the  Sac 
Indians  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi.     Therefore,  in  the 


•  Life  of  Black  Hawk. 


(299) 


«00 


TIIK    IJVIW  OK    ULAOK    HAWK    AND   KKOKirK: 


ttpring  of  1880,  when  Black  Hawk  and  IiIm  hand  returned  tiom 
the  winter's  liunt  to  occupy  their  lodges,  and  prepare  for  raia. 
ing  their  crop  of  vegetables,  they  found  that  their  lands  had 
l»een  purchased  by  the  settlers.  Black  Hawk,  greatly  dis. 
turbed  by  this  change,  applied  to  the  [ndian  agent  at  that 
])lace,  wishing  redress,  but  was  informed  that  since  the  govern- 
nient  had  sold  IiIh  land  he  had  no  longer  any  right  to  it.  The 
chief  still  refused  to  cross  the  river,  and  in  the  course  of  that 
season  he  visited  Maiden,  to  talk  with  his  British  father  on  the 
subject.  He  also  called  upon  Governor  (^ass  at  Detroit  on  the 
same  subject.  Both  of  these  persons  told  him  that  if  he 
remained  quietly  upon  their  lands,  the  Americans  would  not 
interfere  with  them.  Consequently  Black  Hawk  returned 
home  determined  to  keep  possession  of  his  old  village.  But  it 
was  late  in  the  fall  when  he  arrived,  his  people  had  gone  to  the 
hunting  grounds,  and  he  was  not  long  in  following  them. 
During  this  winter  Keokuk  exerted  his  best  inHuence  to  induce 
them  to  desert  Black  Hawk  and  follow  him  to  the  new  village 
on  the  Iowa,  but  without  success.  They  were  so  firmly 
attached  to  their  old  chief,  and  to  their  ancient  village  that 
they  returned  with  him  to  it  in  the  following  spring  of  1831. 
The  traders  at  Rock  river  now  attempted  to  induce  Black 
Hawk  and  his  band  to  leave  by  making  him  presents,  and  after 
a  long  persuasion  the  old  chief  agreed  to  go,  provided  the 
government  would  distribute  six  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
goods  among  his  people.  This  the  government  promptly 
declined  to  do,  and  threatened  to  send  an  armed  force  to  drive 
him  from  the  village  if  he  and  his  people  did  not  leave  at  once. 
The  squaws  had  planted  their  corn,  and  it  was  beginning  to 
grow,  but  the  settlers,  claiming  that  the  Indians  had  no  right 
to  the  ground,  plowed  it  up  again.  Matters  had,  at  las\  come 
to  a  crisis.  The  old  chief  could  stand  it  no  longer,  and  he 
notified  every  settler  to  leave  the  village  at  o  .i.t  Meanwhile, 
not  satisfied  with  their  encroachments  upon  tlie  rights  of  the 
savages,  the  settlers  united  in  a  memorial  to  the  governor  of 
the  Territory  of  Illinois,  in  which  they  declared  that  the  Sac 
Indians  "  had  threatened  to  kill  them;  that  they  had  acted  in 
a  most  outrageous  manner;  threw  down  their  fences;  turned 


OK,   THK    HOKUKK    WAK8   OF   TWO    (^KN'I'UKIKH. 


«ol 


horses  into  their  cornfields;  stole  their  potatoes,  saying  the 
land  was  theirn,  and  that  they  had  not  sold  it;  leveled  deadly 
weapons  at  the  citizens,  and,  on  some  occasions,  hurt  the  citi- 
zens, for  attempting  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  their 
property." 

"One  of  these  eight  afflicted  memorialists."  says  Mr.  Oonc- 
liii,  "  swore  the  other  seven  to  the  truth  of  their  statements, 
and.  with  an  earnest  prayer  for  immediate  relief,  it  was  placed 
before  his  Excellency  on  the  nineteenth  of  May." 

Hut  this  was  not  the  only  complaint.  Every  day  reports 
were  coming  in  to  the  governor's  office  representing  the  lawless 
ants  of  "  General  Black  Hawk "  and  his  "  British  Band." 
These  representations  had  the  desired  effect.  A  strong  force 
was  sent  against  the  Sac  Indians,  and  they  were  driven  in  terror 
to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

Before  passing  on  to  the  consequences  of  this  measure,  let 
us  glance,  for  a  moment,  at  Keokuk,  Black  Hawk's  rival,  who 
figures  conspicuously  in  our  narrative.  He  was  a  native  Sac, 
and  was  born  near  the  Rock  river  village,  about  the  year  1780. 
Like  Black  Hawk,  ho  was  not  a  chief's  son,  but  worked  his  way 
to  the  distinguished  position  of  chief  by  his  own  native  force 
of  character,  bravery  and  address.  He  began  to  manifest  rare 
qualities  at  a  very  early  period  of  his  life.  While  but  a  youth 
he  engaged  in  a  battle  against  the  Sioux.  In  the  engagement 
he  encountered  and  killed  a  Sioux  warrior,  with  his  spear,  while 
on  horseback;  and,  as  tlie  Sioux  are  distinguished  for  their 
horsemanship,  this  feat  was  looked  upon  as  marvelous.  A 
public  feast  was  made  in  commemoration  of  it  by  his  tribe,  and 
the  youthful  warrior  was  from  that  day  ranked  among  the 
greatest  Sac  braves. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  and  before  Keokuk  was  old  enough 
to  be  admitted  to  the  councils  of  his  nation,  the  American 
government,  as  we  have  already  seen,  sent  an  expedition  against 
the  Peoria  Indians.  During  the  advance  of  this  detachment, 
a  rumor  reached  the  Sac  village  on  Rock  river,  that  the  expe- 
dition would  also  attack  the  Sacs.  This  news  threw  the  whole 
tribe  into  confusion.  A  council  was  immediately  held,  and  all 
agreed  to  abandon  their  village.     As  soon  as  Keokuk  heard  of 


802 


TIIK    I.IVii»   or    lil.ACK    IIAWK    AND    KKOKI  K: 


tIliK  (lecirtion,  he  iulvnrieod  to  tlio  door  of  tlio  c'oiiiM'il  houH(>iind 
UHkrd  to  Ih>  tidiiiittcd.  Tlii^  licin^  ^I'liritctl,  lie  next  dt'iiiuiuli'il 
|>uriiiiHr<ioti  to  Mpnik,  wliicii  wim  uIho  tVcfly  ^nuittHl  liim.  Ilu 
Hiii<l  that  lie  liud  lieiird  their  dtM'iriioii  with  Hiir|>riHe  mid  regret; 
thtit  he  was  o|)|)« tried  to  a  tlight, until  the  strength  of  the  enemy 
eould  he  aweertaiiied.  He  Hai«l,  '•  make  nio  vour  h-ader!  I.et 
yuur  yoiiii^  men  follow  me,  and  the  pale  faceri  hhall  Im:  driven 
haek  to  their  towiiH.  Let  tlie  old  men  and  the  women,  iuk!  all 
who  are  afraid  to  meet  the  white  man  Htay  here,  hut  let  vour 
braveri  ^o  to  battle."  The  speech  had  a  magic  effect,  and  every 
warrior  present  declared  that  he  was  rea»ly  to  follow  the  gallant 
Keokuk,  lie  wu8  chosen  at  once  to  lead  them  against  tlu; 
enemy.  Of  ciuirse,  it  ♦.iirned  out  that  the  rumor  was  without 
foundation,  and  there  was  no  enemy  tu  battle  with,  but  the 
eloi^iience  and  bravery  of  lvtH)kuk  placed  him  very  high  in  the 
ranks  of  the  S«ic  braves., 

But  it  was  not  long  before  events  transpired  which  gave  him 
an  opportunity  to  display  his  warlike  spirit.  At  one  time 
Keokuk  was  hunting  with  a  party  in  the  country  which  laid 
between  the  Sac  and  Sioux  villages.  As  is  well  known,  thetie 
tribes  had  been  at  war  for  many  years,  Unexpectetlly  a  party 
of  Sioux  came  upon  them,  mounted  and  rea<ly  for  battle.  The 
Sacs  were  also  mounted,  but  the  situation  and  numbers  were 
both  in  favor  of  the  Sioux.  Keokuk  instantly  formed  his  men 
into  a  compact  circle,  ordered  them  to  dismount,  and  take 
shelter  behind  their  horses.  By  this  ingenious  movement  they 
were  enabled  to  screen  themselves  from  the  flying  missiles 
of  the  Sioux.  It  also  placed  them  in  a  position  by  which  they 
c<Mild  avail  themselves  of  their  superior  skill  as  marksmen. 
The  battle  was  a  long  and  hard  one,  but  Keokuk  was  triuiiij)li- 
ant,  and  routed  the  enemy  with  great  loss.  He  had  many 
other  opportunities  of  showing  his  military  skill,  and  was 
almost  always  successful.  * 

Keokuk's  eloquence  and  abiljty  in  civil  matters  were  (jiiite 
equal  to  his  military  talents.  Some  of  his  speeches  are  splen- 
did eviden(;e8  of  his  sagacity.  While  Jilack  Hawk  led  many 
of  the  Sac  braves  against  the  Americans  in  the  war  of  1812, 
Keokuk   and   a   majority  of  them   renuiined  neutral,  but  in 


OK,   TUB   BOKDKR    W4KH  or  l-WO  CKNTUKIES. 


ao3 


thi«  lie  wan  ex|M»Hed  to  ^rmt  <lHn';er.  Ho  rocjiicHttid  the  agnnt 
of  tlio  Aiiicricun  j^oviTtmu'iit  to  huikI  to  IiIh  villuj^ts  on  the 
went  rtitlu  of  thu  MiHHiHHi|)|>i,  u  white  iiiuii  who  uri<U^rHtoo(l  the 
JSiic  liiiigua|{u,  and  who  nii^ht  Intar  witnesH  to  hiri  hincerity  and 
t'aitlit'idneHti  to  the  whiter*.  Such  a  person  \va8  Hunt.  The 
excitement  among  hitt  peoplu,  kindUid  hy  the  power  of  iilack 
Hiiwk,  every  (hiy  inereaHed,  until  Keokuk  8tood  on  a  mine  Ha- 
hit!  to  l>e  expK>ded  by  a  Hinglu  8park.  lie  wan  in  peril  of  being 
8liiiii  art  the  frien<l  of  the  AmericaiiR;  but  he  remained  («lnt 
and  unawed,  ruling  Iuh  turbulent  little  State  with  mildtiesHand 
tirmnenH,  b\it  at  tho  constant  risk  of  his  life.  One  day  a  new 
einit*sary  arrived  from  lilaek  Hawk's  party.  Whisky  was  freely 
introduced  into  tho  camp,  atid  Keokuk  saw  that  the  crisis  was 
at  hand.  He  warned  the  white  man,  who  was  his  guest,  of  the 
itn|H>nding  danger,  and  advised  him  to  conceal  himself.  A 
scene  of  tumult  followe<l.  Tho  emissary  spoke  of  the  blood 
that  had  been  shed;  of  their  relations  who  had  been  driven 
from  their  hunting  grounds;  of  many  insults  and  injuries 
which  had  been  luddly  perpetrated  by  the  Americans;  hinted 
at  the  ready  vengeance  that  might  betaken  on  an  exposed  fron- 
tier; of  defenseless  cabins,  and  of  rich  booty.  The  braves  began 
to  dance  around  the  war  pole,  to  paint  and  to  give  evidences  of 
a  warlike  character.  Keokuk  watche<l  the  impending  storm, 
and  prepared  himself  to  take  an  important  part  in  it.  He 
drank  and  listened,  and  apparently  assental  to  all  that  was 
said.  At  length  his  warriors  called  out  to  be  led  to  battle, 
and  he  was  asked  to  lead  them.  He  rose  and  spoke  with  that 
power  that  had  never  failed  him.  Ho  sympathized  with  their 
wrongs,  their  thirst  for  vengeance,  and  won  their  confidence  by 
givnij^  utterance  to  the  passions  by  which  they  were  moved, 
and  echoing  back  their  own  thoughts  with  a  master  spirit.  He 
then  considered  the  })ropo8ition  to  go  to  war,  spoke  of  the 
power  of  the  whites,  and  the  hopelessness  of  the  contest,  lie 
told  them  he  was  their  chief;  that  it  was  his  duty  to  rule  them 
as  a  father  at  home,  or  to  lead  them  to  war  if  they  determined 
to  go.  Out,  in  the  proposed  war,  there  was  no  middle  course. 
Tlie  ])o\ver  of  the  United  States  was  such  that  unless  they  con- 
quered that  great  nation,  they  must  perish;  that  he  would  lead 


804 


riiiii  uvKM  or  Hi.AOK  HAWK  AMit  Kh;oKi  k: 


thoin  fnrttantly  ugniiiHt  thu  whites  on  one  condition,  iind  that 
wus,  tliat  th«'v  WMiil'l  tirrtt  put  nil  tlicir  woniuii  an<l  childntn  tu 
<loath,  aim!  tlioii  rcHolvu  that,  liiivitig  orottMud  tliu  MiHsinKippi, 
thoy  would  ncvui'  ruturn,  hut  puruh  arnon^  thu  ^ruvvM  of  thoir 
tuthvr§,  riithcr  thiin  yield  thuni  to  the  whitu  men. 

Thi8  pi'opoHul,  d(!Hpvrutu  m  it  wan,  ])rertuiito<l  thu  truu  irtHuu, 
and  it  calmed  thu  spiritH  of  thu  ehimorouM  warriorx,  who  now 
rujifai'ded  Keokuk  as  their  ruler,  ami  ol>eyi'<l  hin  nuuiHel. 

It  will  l)u  Huun  that  thu  8iiCd  were  divided,  part  under  Mlack 
Hawk  and  part  under  Kuokuk.  TIiIh  divlHion  created  iiuitiy 
diHsunHiotit)  in  thu  tribe,  and  at  length  led  to  thu  overthrow  of 
the  latter,  a  young  brave  being  electe<l  to  his  pluco.  Ke()kiik 
received  the  ehangu  with  a  good  grace,  and  t(»(>k  \i\»  place 
among  thu  common  warriors  without  a  word.  Ih.t  it  wan  not 
long  before  the  inca])acity  t>f  hirt  HuecebHor  mauifeHtod  it^ulf, 
and  Keokuk  wao  again  called  upon  to  rule  the  councila  of  \m 
nation,  and  lead  th<^  warriors  to  battle. 

In  1832,  five  8(ic8,  belonging  to  Kcokuk'u  party,  nnirderuda 
Bettler  in  lUinoiH.  One  of  the  guilty  party  was  \m  own 
nephew,  but  he  was  imnnidiately  seii"!  anddelivurud  up  to  the 
civil  authorities,  the  other  four  having  escaped.  Some  time 
after  the  Americans  demanded  the  other  four  prisoncrM,  but 
they  could  not  be  found.  Keukuk  calU-d  a  council  and  stated 
the  matter  at  length,  saying  that  something  must  be  done  to 
appease  the  wrath  of  the  President.  An  expedient  was  soon 
offered.  Four  young  warriors  came  forward  and  gave  them- 
Belves  up,  manifesting  a  willingness  to  die  for  thu  crimes  of 
their  brethren.  These  brave  men  were  turned  over  to  the 
proper  officers  and  imprisoned.  Keokuk  was  present  at  their 
trial,  and  testitied  that  the  prisoners  were  not  guilty,  but  that 
they  had  offered  to  die  in  order  to  satisfy  the  law.  He  said 
that  the  real  murderers  had  escaped.  The  prisoners  were,  of 
course,  set  at  liberty.  '  \. 

Sometime  after,  Keokuk,  Black  Hawk  and  several  Sac  oliief« 
made  a  visit  to  Washington  and  the  principal  cities  of  the 
Eastern  States,  in  which  they  were  well  received.  In  Boston 
they  created  great  excitement,  wliich  was  caused  by  the  war 
dance  on  the  common.  In  all  the  savage  virtues,  Keokuk  was 
a  superior  Indian,  far  in  advance  of  Black  Hawk. 


I  I 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

CoMMKNCKMRNT  Or  TIIR  Hl.ACK  IIaWK  WaH— Thr  HaCH  ViOI.ATR  THItm 
TllKATT— TlIRT    AUK    niinKllKD    TO    UrTUHN    WrsT    OF    TIIR    Misatft. 

Kii'Pi  — TuRT  Rrrubr  —  PuHBORD  OT  Amrhican  TRoopa— Bi.aok 
Hawk  and  iiib  Band  Viotorioub— Druoi.ation  in  tiir  Boiidrb 
Sktti.rmknts  or  Ii.mnoii— Bi<aok  Hawk  DKrKATRu— Htarvatiox 

AMONO  THR  SaVAORI. 

We  now  have  before  us  two  men — Black  Hawk  and  Keoknk. 
A  glance  at  their  different  virtues  has  enabled  the  reader  to 
judge  somewhat  of  these  Indians.  Let  us  now  notice,  briefly, 
the  principal  acts  of  their  lives. 

Black  Hawk  and  his  band  had  not  boon  long  in  their  new 
village  before  difhculties  began  to  arise  which  terminated  in  a 
violation  of  the  treaty  which  he  had  made  subsequent  to  his 
removal.  They  had  been  sent  away  from  their  homes  too  late 
in  the  season  to  admit  of  planting  corn  and  beans,  and  before 
autumn  was  over  they  were  suffering  for  provisions.  It  is  not 
surprising  that  in  this  condition  they  should  attempt  to  steal 
tiie  corn  which  they  had  planted  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  in  the  spring.  Many  events  followed,  trivial  in  their 
character,  but  all  well  qualified  to  foster  the  hatred  which 
already  existed  between  Black  Hawk's  band  and  the  Americans. 
In  April,  1832,  the  whole  party,  under  this  chief,  crossed  over 
the  river,  and  in  open  violation  of  their  treaty  of  the  previous 
year,  ascended  the  Rock  river  to  the  territory  of  their  friends, 
the  Winnebagoes,  having  been  invited  thither  to  raise  corn. 
General  Atkinson,  with  a  body  of  troops,  was  then  at  Fort 
Armstrong,  having  been  ordered  by  the  government  to  that 
point  for  the  purpose  of  quelling  a  war  which  existed  between 
the  Mcnominies  and  the  Foxes.  Black  Hawk  had  not  pro- 
<!eeded  far  up  the  river  when  he  was  overtaken  by  a  messenger 
80  ^  (808) 


:> 


806 


TIIK    I.IVKM  or    III.Af'K    HAWK    AND    KKoKltK: 


from  iieu.  AtkiiiMoii  with  nil  unlor  tor  him  aikI  hi*  piirty  to 
rutiini  and  rtHToMH  thu  MiHNiHMippi.  Thin  thu  chiuf  ntCiiMnj  to 
o)N>y,  Hiiyiiif^  thut  thn  (^utiurul  hud  no  ri)(ht  to  iHMiio  mucIi  un 
onlur.  IIo  (KiclHri'd  thnt  ho  wum  at  |M*n('»  with  thu  Amuriiitiiit, 
Hiid  thiit  hi)  wuH  p4'U('i>ul)ly  truvt'lin^  townrdH  the  vilUi^u  of  Ima 
t'riondH.  Thuy  joiirm^Mtl  on,  hut  won?  kooh  ovcrtukiMi  liv 
Hiiothor  iiu>HH«>ii)j;(!r,  who  hroii^ht  word  that  luihm:^  thi>  Such 
roturiu><l  and  rccroHMcd  tho  MiMrtiHHippi  at  once,  an  unncd  titi-iv 
would  hu  Hunt  to  ntnipol  thvin.  UUn-k  tIawkV  ruply  whh  (|«f  i. 
live;  hu  would  not  ruturn.  Arriving  at  thu  villii^>  to  which 
hu  waH  trnvuling,  thu  Sac  rhiut' t'outid  that  in  caMi  ho  Hhoiild  Im) 
purimod  hy  thu  troopH  at  Fort  ArniHtron^,  liu  would  l)o  iimitilu 
to  ohtain  any  aHHiHtanco  from  thono  Indianit,  uiid  ho  thticforo 
roHolvud,  if  ovortakun,  to  roftirti  pt'uroahly.  11*'  »MU'aiiip»'(l  nt 
Kish-wa-eokuu  and  l)ogan  |>rupanition8  for  a  dog-foaet,  with 
which  to  complimunt  the  PottawatomiuH. 

Muanwhilu  thu  Illinois  militia  waH  ordurc<i  out  and  foriiud 
a  junction  with  thu  regular  tnMipH  under  (i^on.  AtkinHon,  ut 
Itoek  luland.  From  thifl  point  thu  inilitia,  h«>ing  for  tlu>  inoHt 
part  mounted,  procueded  by  land  to  Dixou'H  furry,  (»m  U(M'k 
river,  ahout  half  way  between  the  fort  and  Black  HawkV  pres. 
ent  encampment.  (Jen.  Atkinson,  with  thi-ee  hundred  iiiilitiu 
and  three  hundred  re^^ularH,  ascended  thu  river  in  boatn  to  the 
8amu  point.  "Major  8tillman,"  sayrt  Mr.  Conclin,  "lmviii;» 
under  his  command  a  body  of  two  hundred  and  Huveiity-tivc 
mounted  volunteers,  obtained  leave  of  Gen.  Whitesideo,  then 
in  command  of  the  Illinois  militia  at  Dixon's  ferry,  to  ^o  out 
on  a  scouting  expedition.  lie  j)roceedc'.l  up  Hock  river  about 
thirty  miles,  to  Sycamore  creek,  which  empties  into  that  river 
on  the  east  side.  This  movement  brought  him  within  a  tew 
miles  of  the  camp  of  Black  Hawk  and  a  jtart  of  hiri  braves 
at  the  time  when  the  old  chief  wau  engaged  in  getting  up  a 
dog-feast  in  honor  of  his  Pottawatomie  visitors." 

While  engaged  in  this  ancient  ceremony,  on  the  fourteenth 
of  May,  Black  Hawk  received  intelligence  of  the  advance  of  a 
large  number  of  mounted  volunteers,  which  were  reported  as 
being  about  eight  miles  distant.  "I  immediately  started," 
says  the  old  chief,  "  three  young  men  with  a  white  flag  to  meet 


TDK    IkiMMKH    WANN  nV   TWO  OKN  ri'NII>y. 


807 


tlii'iii  nii*l  cuttdiict  tli<^ni  t<»  our  cninp,  timt  wn   iiii^lit  hold  h 

ciiiiitcil  witi   Mutin  utul  (li>M<*(>ii<l  Uock  riviT  ii^uiii;  hikI  (iir««cti><l 

tliiMii,  it)  «''*i*<   t\w  wliitcM  IiimI  t>n<>iuii|>«M|,  to  r(>turri,  hikI  I  would 

^)  aihI  m>c  thuiii.     Atti>r   tltiH  purty  lind   Htiirtcd,  I  Mvrit  Hve 

yiiuii^  iiuMi   to  MOV  whiit  inif,(lit  tuk«  placr.     Hut  Hrxt  pHrty 

ui'tit  to  ihi>()ncutiipiiii>ntot*tli()  uliit<>H  uid  wur««  lukt'ii  priHuiturH. 

TIk'  luHt  purty  liud  not  pr«nH'i'dt'd    I'lir  Iw-forn   they  hhw  twoiity 

nii'ti  oMuiii^  towardrt  tlutiii  in  full  ^iillop.     Tliry  Htop|>iHl,  uiid 

titiiliii^  tluit  tliu  wliitcM  W(>ru  cotniii^  ho  t'HNt,  In  u  wiirliko  uttl< 

tiidt',  thoy  turiMMJ  and   rotrtMitud,  l>ut  wvro  purHuod  and  uvnr- 

titlicti,  aiul  two  of  tlicin  killed.     Tliu  othorN  nindu  their  eH(;a(>e. 

Wlici)  tliuy  mint'  in  with  tito  nuwH,  I  wiui  prcpnrinf(  my  fla^M 

l>  iii»'<'t  tlu>  war  <  hiut*.     Tim  alarm  wan  given.     Nearly  all   my 

yoiiii^  men   wtM-t;  al)Hunt,  about  ten   miles  otF.     I  started  with 

wliiit  1  had  lut't,  ahout  t'urty,  and  had  proceeded  hut  a  short 

tliHtiiiice  hef'ore  we  naw  a  part  (»t'  the  enemy  approiu'.hing.     I 

riilM'd  a  yell,  and  Haid  to  my  braves,  'some  of  our  people  have 

Ih'i'ii  kilUfd — wantonly  and  t-ruelly  murdered!  we  must  avenge 

their  deathl'     In  a  little  while  we  discoverefl  the  whole  army 

coining  towards  uh  in  full  gallop!     We  were  now  confident 

timt  our  KrHt  party  had  been  killed.     I  immediately  placed  my 

inn  I  in  front  of  some  buHlies,  that  we  might  have  the  first  fire, 

when  they  approached  close  enough.     They  made  a  halt  some 

(llHtiinco  from  us.     I  gave  another  yell,  and  ordered  my  brave 

wiirriorH  to  charge  u|M)n  them,  expecting  that  we  woidd  all  bo 

killed!     They  did  charge.     Every  man   rushed   and  fired,  and 

the  enemy  retreated  in  the  utmost  confusion  and  consternation 

before  my  little  but  brave  band  of  warriors.     After  pursuing 

the  enemy  for  some  dintance,  I  found  it  useless  to  follow  them, 

&»  thoy  n)de  so  fast,  and  returned  to  my  encampment  with  a 

few  of  my  braves,  about  twenty-five  liaving  gone  in  pursuit 

of  the  enemy.     I  lighted  my  pipe  and  sat  down  to  thank  tlie 

(Treat  Spirit  for  what  lie  had  done.      I  had  not  been  long 

meditating  when  two  of  the  three  young  men  I  had  sent  out 

witii  the  Hag  to  meet  the  American  war  chief  entered.     My 

astonishment  was  not  greater  than  my  joy  to  see  them  living 

and  well.     1  r^HgU'-y  listened   to  tlieir   story,  which   was  as 

follows: 


808 


THK   LIVK8  OF   OI.AOK    HAWK    AND    KKoKUK: 


**'  When  we  arrived  near  to  the  encampment  of  tlie  whites  a 
uuinber  of  them  ruHlied  out  to  meet  us,  bringing  tiieir  gutiD 
witii  them.    They  took  us  in  the  camp,  when  an  American 
who  spoke  the  Sac  language  a  little,  told  us  that  his  chief 
wanted  to  know  how  we  were,  where  we  were  going,  where 
our  camp  was,  and  where  Black  Hawk  was.    We  told  him  that 
we  had  come  to  see  his  chief;  that  our  chief  had  directed  us 
to  conduct  him  to  our  camp,  in  case  he  had  not  encamped,  and 
in  that  event  to  tell  him  that  he  (Black  Hawk)  would  come  to 
gee  him;  he  wished  to  hold  a  council  with  him,  as  lie  imd 
given  up  all  intention  of  going  to  war.     At  the  conclusion  of 
this  talk  a  party  of  white  men  came  in  on  horseback.    We  saw 
by  their  countenances  that  something  had  happened.    A  gen- 
eral  tumult  arose.    They  looked  at  us  with  indignation,  talked 
among  themselves  for  a  moment,  when  several  cocked  their 
guns;  in  a  second  they  iired  at  us  in  the  crowd;  our  companion 
fell  dead.    We  rushed  through  the  crowd  and  made  our  escape. 
We  remained  in  ambush  but  a  short  time  before  we  heard 
yelling  like  Indians  running  an  enemy.     In  a  little  while  we 
saw  some  of  the  whites  in  full  speed.    One  of  them  came  near 
us.     I  threw  my  tomahawk  and  struck  him  on  the  head,  which 
brought  him  to  the  ground.     I  ran  to  him  and  with  his  own 
knife  took  off  his  scalp.     I  took  his  gun,  mounted  his  horse, 
and  took  my  friend  here  behind  me.     We  turned  to  follow  our 
braves,  who  were  running  the  enemy,  and  had  not  gone  far 
before  we  overtook  a  white  man  whose  horse  had  mired  in  a 
swamp.     My  friend  alighted  and  tomahawked  the  man,  who 
was  apparently  fast  under  his  horse.     He  took  his  scalp,  horse 
and  gun.    By  this  time  our  party  was  some  distance  ahead. 
We  followed  and  saw  several  white  men  lying  dead  on  the  way. 
After  riding  about  six  miles  we  met  our  party  returning.    We 
asked  them  how  many  of  our  men  had  been  killed.     They 
said   none,  after  the  Americans  had  retreated.    We  inquired 
then  how  many  whites  had  been  killed.     They  replied  they  did 
not  know,  but  said  we  would  soon  ascertain,  as  we  must  scalp 
them  as  we  go  back.     On  our  return  we  found  ten  men  beside 
the  two  we  had  killed  before  we  joined  our  friends.    Seeing 
that  they  did  not  yet  recognize  us,  it  being  dark,  we  again 


OB,    TIIK    HORDKli    WARS   OK   TWO   CKNTrRIFX 


309 


asked  how  many  of  our  braves  had  been  killed.  They  said 
five.  We  asked  who  they  were.  Tliey  re})lied  that  the  first 
party  of  three  who  went  out  to  meet  tlie  American  war  chief 
had  all  been  taken  prisoners  and  killed  in  the  encampment, 
and  that  out  of  a  party  of  five  who  followed  to  see  the  meet- 
ing of  the  first  party  and  the  whites,  two  had  been  killed. 
We  were  now  certain  that  they  did  not  recognize  us,  nor  did 
we  tell  them  who  we  were  until  we  arrived  at  our  camp.  The 
news  of  our  deilth  had  reached  it  some  time  before,  and  all  were 
surprised  to  see  us  again.' " 

"The  precipitate  flight  of  the  troops  under  Major  Stillman," 
says  Conclin,  "  has  no  justification."  No  eflTort  vras  made  to 
rally  the  troops,  and  all  the  baggage  of  the  army,  blankets, 
saddle-bags,  camp  equipage  and  provisions  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Indians.  Black  Hawk,  finding  that  his  peace  flag  had 
been  fired  upon,  and  being  intoxicated  with  his  success, 
determined  on  war.  Indeed,  with  the  provision  and  other 
supplies  which  he  had  secured  in  this  contest,  he  was  not  poorly 
qualified  for  the  undertaking.  He  assembled  his  braves  and 
began  active  preparations  for  a  border  war.  He  immediately 
sent  out  spies  to  watch  the  movements  of  Gen.  Atkinson,  and 
prepared  to  remove  his  women  and  children  from  the  seat  of 
war  further  up  the  Rock  river,  where,  as  he  thought,  they 
would  be  secure  from  the  whites.  In  passing  to  this  point  he 
was  met  by  a  band  of  Winnebagoes,  who,  having  heard  of  his 
victory,  signified  a  willingness  to  join  him. 

But  meanwhile  the  defeat  of  the  troops  spread  consternation 
throughout  the  settlements  of  Illinois.  The  Indian  forces  were 
greatly  misrepresented,  and  everywhere  Black  Hawk  and  his 
band  were  spoken  of  as  bold  and  cunning  warriors.  Gen. 
Atkinson  at  once  fortified  his  camp  at  Dixon's  Ferry,  and  the 
Governor  of  the  State  issued  a  call  for  more  mounted  volun- 
teers. The  Secretary  of  War  sent  one  thousand  troops  from 
the  East  under  Gen.  Winfield  Scott,  who  was  to  have  the  com- 
mand of  the  campaign  against  the  Black  Hawk  forces. 

And  now  we  come  to  the  horrors  of  another  border  war  in 
which  many  frontier  families  were  massacred  or  carried  away 
into  captivity,  torture  and  death.     The  catalogue  begins  with 


4 

i 

1 

;> 


810 


TIIK    IA\'V»  OK    IILAOK    HAWK    AND    KKOKIK". 


the  IndiHii  creek  massacre.  At  this  point  a  party  of  horttile 
Pottawatoniies,  thirty  in  number,  fell  upon  a  little  settlement 
on  Indian  creek,  one  of  the  tributaries  of  Fox  river,  and  mur- 
dered fifteen  men,  women  and  children,  taking  two  prisoners, 
the  Misses  Hall,  who  were  afterwards  returned  to  their  friends 
by  the  Winnebagoes.  , 

It  was,  indeed,  a  war  of  detail.  A  party  of  Indians  stole 
the  horses  belonging  to  Capt.  Stephenson,  who  resided  not  far 
from  Galena.  The  captain  pursued  them  with  twelve  men.  A 
battle  or  skirmish  ensued,  in  which  six  Indians  and  three  sol- 
diers were  killed.  Soon  after,  a  party  of  eleven  Sacs  killed  live 
white  men  at  Stafford's  farm.  Vengeance  followed;  General 
Dodge  followed  and  overtook  them  in  a  swamp,  when  they 
were  all  shot  down  and  scalped.  Three  soldiers  fell  in  the  con- 
test.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  June,  1832,  the  Indians  made 
an  attack  upon  the  fort  at  Buffalo  Grove,  not  far  from  Dixon's 
Ferry.  The  post  was  garrisoned  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Dement.  In  this  contest  many  of  the 
soldiers  and  forty  horses  were  killed.  After  accomplishing 
this,  and  seeing  that  they  could  not  take  the  fort,  they  com- 
menced a  retreat.  They  had  not  gone  far  when  they  were 
overtaken  by  a  detachment  under  Col.  Posey.  This  is  Black 
Hawk's  account  of  the  contest  which  followed :  "  We  concealed 
ourselves  until  they  came  near  enough,  and  then  commenced 
yelling  and  firing,  and  made  a  rush  upon  them.  About  this 
time  their  chief  (Posey,)  with  a  party  of  men,  rushed  up  to 
the  rescue  of  those  we  had  fired  upon.  In  a  little  while 
they  commenced  retreating,  and  left  their  chief  and  a  few 
braves,  who  seemed  willing  and  anxious  to  fight.  They  acted 
like  braves,  but  were  forced  to  give  way  when  I  rushed  upon 
them  with  my  braves.  In  a  short  time  the  chief  returned  with 
a  larger  party.  He  seemed  determined  to  fight  and  anxious 
for  battle.  When  he  came  near  enough,  I  raised  the  yell,  and 
firing  commenced  from  both  sides.  The  chief,  who  is  a  small 
man,  addressed  his  warriors  in  a  loud  voice,  but  they  soon 
retreated,  leaving  him  and  a  few  braves  on  the  battlefield.  A 
great  number  of  my  warriors  pursued  the  retreating  party  and 
killed  a  number  of  their  braves  as  they  ran.     The  chief  and 


OK,   THK    ROKDEK    WAU8   OF   TWO   OKNTlTRIEfl. 


811 


his  l)rave8  were  unwilling  to  leave  the  field;  I  ordered  my 
braves  to  rush  upon  them,  and  had  the  mortification  of  Beein(( 
two  of  my  chiefs  killed  before  the  enemy  retreated.  This 
young  chief  deserves  great  praise  for  his  courage,  but  fortu- 
nately for  us,  his  army  was  not  all  composed  of  such  brave 
men."  The  numbers  on  both  sides  were  about  equal  in  this 
engagement.  On  the  fourth  of  July,  the  army  under  Gen. 
Atkinson,  consisting  of  four  hundred  regulars  and  over  one 
thousand  mounted  volunteers,  arrived  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Cash- 
conong.  Two  brigades  of  the  volunteers,  under  Gen.  Dodge, 
pursued  the  Indians  from  this  point,  and  overtook  them  on  the 
twenty-first  of  July,  about  sundown,  on  the  banks  of  the  Wis- 
consin. An  attack  was  made^  resulting  in  the  route  of 
the  Indians,  with  a  heavy  loss.  One  of  the  troops  was 
killed  and  eight  wounded.  "The  exact  loss  of  the  Indians 
in  this  engagement  cannot  be  ascertained.  One  account,"  says 
Mr.  Conclin,  "  places  the  number  at  sixteen."  Black  Hawk 
says  that  he  had  but  fifty  warriors  with  him  in  this  engage- 
ment, the  rest  being  engaged  in  assisting  the  women  and 
children  in  crossing  the  Wisconsin  to  an  island,  to  protect 
them  from  the  fire  ;  f  the  whites.  This  was  undoubtedly  a 
mistake,  as  one  of  his  own  men  gives  the  number  engaged  in 
the  battle  at  sixty  or  seventy.  "A  party  of  Black  Hawk's 
band,  including  many  women  and  children,  now  attempted  to 
descend  the  Wisconsin  upon  rafts  and  in  canoes,  that  they  might 
escape  by  recrossing  the  Mississippi."  But  in  this  attempt  they 
were  overtaken  and  attacked  by  troops  which  had  been  sta- 
tioned on  the  banks  of  the  river.  Many  of  the  savages  were 
killed,  some  were  taken  prisoners,  others  escaped  to  the  neigh- 
boring woods,  where  they  soon  perished  from  hunger.  Another 
party,  among  whom  was  Black  Hawk,  having,  it  is  said,  aban- 
doned all  idea  of  continuing  the  war,  and  being  unwilling  to 
trust  themselves  to  a  capitulation,  started  across  the  country, 
hoping  to  escape  west  of  the  Mississippi.  In  this  route  they 
lost  many  of  their  people  from  starvation.  Eeachir^^  the  Mis- 
sissippi, a  number  of  the  women  and  children  undertook  to 
descend  the  river  in  canoes  to  Prairie  du  Chien.  Manv  of 
them  were  drowned  in  this  attempt,  and  those  who  did  reach 


312 


THK   LIVES  OF   BLACK    HAWK    AMD    KKfJKVK', 


their  destination  were  found  to  bo  in  a  starving  condition. 
But  let  us  turn  to  Black  Hawk  and  his  party.  On  the  first  of 
August,  while  in  the  act  of  crossing  the  MiBsissippi,  he  was 
attacked  by  the  steamboat  Warrior,  with  an  armed  force  on 
board. 

In  this  engag  ment  the  Indians  lost  twenty-three  killed,  and 
a  great  many  wounded,  while  on  board  the  Warrior,  not  one  of 
the  gallant  little  crew  was  killed,  only  one  being  siightly 
wounded.  On  the  following  morning,  the  whole  of  General 
Atkinson's  army  was  upon  them.  The  Warrior  also  assisted, 
killing  three  by  the  first  shot.  In  Atkinson's  army  nine  were 
killed  and  seventeen  wounded.  The  Indians  were,  of  course, 
cruelly  put  to  flight. 


<  I 


\ 


:  ,    " 


CHAPTER    XXXIX.       n 

Black  Hawk's  Dekeat— He  and  His  Bksd  akk  £)RtvBN  into  tbb 
Mississippi  —  Tbhrible  Indian  Slauoiitek  —  Tiik  W/»'.  Ended  — 
BiiACK  Hawk  Captubed,  and  with  otiieh  Ciiibkb  Conitnkd  in 
Ikons— He  Visits  Washington  and  tub  Eastern  Cities— His 
Reception. 

Gen.  Atkinson  was  not  satistied  with  his  triumph  upon  the 
Wisconsin,  but  pushed  forward  with  his  whole  army  in  pursuit 
of  the  Indians,  making  forced  marches  over  a  rough,  uneven 
country.  On  the  morning  of  the  second  of  August,  when 
witliin  ten  miles  of  the  Mississippi,  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
enemy  was  then  on  the  bank  of  the  river  in  their  front,  pre- 
paring to  embark,  at  a  place  called  Bad  Axe.  Arrangements 
were  at  once  made  for  an  attack.  Gen.  Dodge's  squadron  was 
placed  in  front,  followed  by  the  infantry,  and  these  by  the 
brigades  of  Henry,  Alexander  and  Posey.  They  had  proceeded 
in  this  order  for  about  five  miles,  when  they  discovered  a  small 
party  of  Indians,  and  immediately  fired  upon  them.  This 
band  retreated  to  the  main  body  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  In 
order  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  escaping.  Generals  Alexan- 
der and  Posey  were  directed  to  form  the  right  wing  of  the 
array,  and  to  march  to  the  river  above  the  Indian  encampment, 
and  then  to  move  down  along  the  bank.  Gen.  Henry  formed 
the  left  wing,  and  the  United  States  infantry  and  Gen.  Dodge's 
squadron  occupied  the  centre.  In  this  order  the  army  descended 
into  the  valley  of  the  river,  which  was  covered  with  weeds  and 
heavy  brushwood.  Gen.  Henry  was  the  first  to  discover  the 
enemy.  He  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  them,  which  was 
returned.  Gen.  Dodge's  troops  and  the  United  States  infantry 
joined  him  in  the  action,  and  the  whole,  with  Gen.  Henry's 
men,  rushed  upon  the  savages,  killing  them  without  mercy. 
Only  a  few  of  them  escaped. 

(813) 


314 


TIIK    LIVKH   OP    nLA(?K    HAWK    AND    KEOKUK: 


Mcanwliile,  the  brigndes  of  Alexander  and  Posey,  which 
were  approaching  along  the  river's  bank,  fell  in  with  another 
party  of  Indians,  putting  them  to  rout  with  great  slaughter. 
The  Indians  were  driven  to  the  edge  of  the  river,  where  they 
hoped  to  escape  by  swininiing  to  the  opposite  side,  but  they 
were  shot  in  the  water,  until  nearly  all  had  perished.  Among 
the  few  who  escaped  was  Black  Hawk. 

Generals  Atkinson,  Dodge  and  Posey,  descended  the  Missis- 
sippi to  Prairie  du  Chien  in  the  Warrior,  and  there  awaited 
the  arrival  of  the  mounted  volunteers.  The  latter  arrived  on 
the  fourth.  The  few  Indians  who  escaped  in  tliis  battle, 
reached  tlie  western  side  of  the  Mississippi,  only  to  fall  a  prey 
to  the  tomahawks  of  their  enemies,  the  Sioux.  The  loss  of 
the  Indians  was  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  killed,  thirty-nine 
women  and  children  taken  prisoners.  The  American  loss  did 
not  exceed  ten  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 

Soon  after  this  fatal  battle,  Black  Hawk  and  the  propliet, 
Wabokieshiek,  who  had  escaped  into  th  ,  country  of  the  Sioux, 
were  captured  by  two  chiefs  belonging  to  the  Winnebagoes,  ana 
delivered  as  prisoners  to  the  Indian  agent  at  Prairie  du  Chien. 
The  prisoners  were  all  conducted  to  Fort  Barracks,  a  few  miles 
below  St.  Louis. 

Soon  after.  Gen.  Scott  arrived  at  Eock  Island  from  the  East, 
and  made  some  investigations  into  the  causes  which  led  to  the 
Black  Hawk  War,  from  which  it  was  made  to  appear  that  the 
whole  contest  might  have  been  avoided. 

On  the  twenty-lirst  of  September,  Gen.  Scott  and  Governor 
Reynolds  concluded  a  treaty  with  the  Winnebagoes  and  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes.  For  the  faithful  performance  of  the  provisions 
of  this  treaty  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  it  was  stipulated  that 
Black  Hawk,  his  two  sons,  the  prophet  and  six  other  chiefs  of 
the  hostile  band,  should  be  retained  as  hostages  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  President.  All  the  other  prisoners  were  set  at 
liberty.  The  hostages  were  confined  in  Fort  Barracks,  and 
put  in  irons. 

"  We  were  now  confined,"  says  the  old  chief.  Black  Hawk, 
"  to  the  barracks,  and  forced  to  wear  the  ball  and  chain.  This 
was  extremely  mortifying  and  altogether  useless.     Was  the 


OR,   THK    UOKDKK    WAKH  OK   TWU   CKNTURIB8. 


815 


White  Beaver  (Gen.  Atkinson)  ntVnid  that  I  would  break  out 
of  hit)  hurrackH  and  run  away,  or  waft  he  ordered  to  inflict  this 
punishment  upon  um'i  W  I  had  taken  him  priuoner,  upon  the 
tiold  of  battle,  I  would  not  have  wounded  his  feelings  so  much 
by  such  treatment,  knowing  that  a  bravo  war  chief  would  pre- 
fer death  to  dishonor.  Hut  I  do  not  blame  the  White  Beaver 
for  the  course  he  pursued.  It  is  the  custom  among  white 
soldiers,  and,  I  suppose,  was  a  part  of  his  duty. 

"The  time  dragjjed  heavily  and  gloomily  along  throughout 
the  winter,  although  the  White  Beaver  did  everything  in  his 
power  to  render  us  comfortable.  Having  been  accustomed, 
throughout  a  long  life,  to  roam  through  the  forests,  to  come 
and  go  at  liberty,  confinement  under  any  such  circumstances 
cuiild  not  be  less  than  torture. 

"  We  passed  away  the  time  making  pipes,  until  spring,  when 
we  were  visited  by  tlie  agent,  trader  and  interpreter,  from 
Il(»ck  Island,  Keokuk  and  several  chiefs  and  braves  of  our 
nation,  and  my  wife  and  daughter.  I  was  rejoiced  to  see  the 
two  latter,  and  spent  my  time  very  agreeably  with  them  and 
my  people,  as  long  as  they  remained." 

Keokuk  made  exertions  to  obtain  the  release  of  Black  Hawk, 
pledging  himself  to  be  responsible  for  his  good  conduct.  But 
while  the  rival  chief  was  endeavoring  to  effect  this,  an  order 
arrived  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  have  the  prisoners  sent 
to  Washington  City.  Accordingly  they  set  out,  and  reached 
the  National  Capital  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1833.  They 
were  immediately  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe,  "  there  to  remain 
until  the  conduct  of  their  nation  was  such  as  to  justify  their 
being  set  at  liberty."  The  chiefs  were  much  dissatisfied  with 
tins  part  of  their  reception,  and  remonstrated  bitterly.  The 
prophet  said:  "We  expected  to  return  immediately  to  our 
people.  The  war  in  which  we  have  been  involved  was  occa- 
sioned by  our  attempting  to  raise  provisions  on  our  own  lands, 
or  where  we  thought  we  had  a  right  to  do  so.  We  have  lost 
many  of  our  people,  as  well  as  the  whites.  Our  tribes  and 
families  are  now  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  our  enemies,  the 
Sioux  and  the  Menominies.  We  hope,  therefore,  to  be  per- 
mitted to  return  home  to  take  care  of  them.' 


316 


TIIK   LIVKS   OF    Hr-A(K    HAWK    AND    KKOKTK: 


niiick  HhwIv  concluded  IiIk  coiiipliiint  by  Haying:  "  VVt>  dij 
luit  ex})ect  to  con<iiier  tlio  whitt>8.  No;  they  luid  too  uuwy 
hur8C8,  too  many  men.  I  took  up  the  hatchet,  for  my  part,  to 
revenge  injuries  which  my  people  could  no  longer  endure. 
Had  1  homo  them  longer  without  striking,  my  people  would 
have  said  Black  Hawk  is  a  woman.  He  is  too  old  to  he  a 
chief.  He  is  no  Sac.  These  reflections  uuised  me  to  rairio  the 
war-whoop.  I  say  no  more  of  it;  it  is  known  to  you.  Keokuk 
once  was  hera,  and  when  he  wished  to  return  to  his  home,  you 
were  willing.  Black  Hawk  expects  that,  like  Keokuk,  we  hIiuII 
be  permitted  to  return,  too."  The  President  assured  them 
that  their  women  and  children  should  be  protected  against  their 
enemies,  and  that  as  soon  as  he  was  satisfied  that  peace  was 
restored  to  the  frontiers,  he  would  set  them  at  liberty. 

It  was  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  April  that  the  chiefs  entered 
Fortress  Monroe,  at  Old  Point  Comfort,  where  they  remained 
until  the  fourth  of  June,  when  they  were  released.  When 
about  to  depart  Black  Hawk  waited  upon  the  commandant  of 
the  fort  and  said : 

"  Brother,  I  have  come  on  my  own  part  and  in  behalf  of 
my  companions  to  bid  you  farewell.  Our  great  father  has  at 
length  been  pleased  to  permit  us  to  return  to  our  hunting 
grounds.  We  have  buried  the  tomahawk,  and  the  sound  of 
the  rifle  will  hereafter  only  bring  death  to  the  deer  and  the 
buifalo.  Brother,  you  have  treated  the  red  men  very  kindly. 
Your  squaws  have  made  them  presents,  and  you  have  given 
them  plenty  to  eat  and  drink.  The  memory  of  your  friend- 
ship will  remain  until  the  Great  Spirit  says  it  is  time  for  Black- 
Hawk  to  sing  his  death  song.  Brother,  your  houses  are  as 
numerous  as  the  leaves  of  the  trees,  and  your  young  warriors 
like  the  sand  upon  the  shorn  of  the  big  lake  that  rolls  before 
us.  The  red  man  hath  but  few  houses  and  few  warriors,  but 
the  red  man  has  a  heirt  which  throbs  as  warmly  as  the  heart 
of  his  white  brother.  Tlie  Great  Spirit  has  given  us  our  hunt- 
ing grounds,  and  the  skin  of  the  deer  which  we  kill  there  is 
his  favorite,  for  its  color  is  white,  and  this  is  the  emblem  of 
peace.  This  hunting  dress  and  these  feathers  of  the  eagle  are 
white.    Accept  them,  my  brother.    I  have  given  one  like  this 


OR,   THE   DORDKK   WAR8  OK   TWO   tll-rNTlIRIW. 


317 


to  tlie  Wliito  Ottor.  Accept  of  It  hh  a  inuinorinl  of  IMnck  Hawk. 
Wlicn  he  is  far  away  thin  will  Bervo  to  retnind  you  of  him. 
May  the  Great  Spirit  bleHs  you  and  your  chiUiron.    Farewell." 

On  the  fifth  of  June  Black  I  lawk  and  his  five  companions 
left  the  FortrcHw  under  the  char^  of  Major  John  Garland,  of 
the  Unitetl  States  army.  Before  leaving  the  place  they  visited 
Norfolk  and  the  navy-yard  at  (4o8port.  They  were  taken  on 
board  of  some  of  the  war  ships,  and  Black  Hawk  expressed  a 
desire  to  see  the  chiefs  who  commanded  them. 

At  N^orfolk  they  were  greeted  by  crowds  of  citizens,  who 
tendered  them  a  cordial  reception.  From  the  balcony  of  his 
hotel  the  Prophet  Wabakieshiek  addressed  them  as  follows: 

"The  Great  Spirit  sent  us  here,  and  now  happily  we  are 
about  to  return  to  our  own  Mississippi  and  to  our  own  people. 
It  affords  us  much  happiness  to  rejoin  our  friends  and  kindred. 
We  would  shake  hands  with  all  our  white  friends  assembled 
here.  Should  any  of  them  go  to  our  country,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, we  would  take  pleasure  in  returning  their  kindness  to 
ns.  We  will  go  home  with  peaceable  dispositions  towards  our 
white  brethren,  and  make  our  conduct  hereafter  more  satisfac- 
tory to  them.  We  bid  you  all  farewell,  as  it  is  the  last  time 
we  shall  see  each  other." 

Black  Hawk  also  made  a  speech,  after  which  the  party  left 
for  Baltimore.  Here,  as  everywhere  else  in  the  East,  they  were 
greeted  by  crowds  of  curious  spectators.  The  President  hap- 
pened to  be  at  Baltimore  at  the  same  time,  and  at  an  interview 
with  him  he  addressed  the  old  chief  as  follows: 

"  When  I  saw  you  in  Washington  I  told  you  that  you  had 
behaved  very  badly  in  raising  the  tomahawk  against  the  white 
people  and  killing  men,  women  and  children  upon  the  frontier. 
Your  conduct  last  year  compelled  me  to  send  my  warriors 
against  you,  and  your  people  were  defeated  with  great  loss,  and 
your  men  surrendered,  to  be  kept  until  I  should  be  satisfied 
that  you  would  not  try  to  do  any  more  injury.  I  told  you  I 
would  inquire  whether  your  people  wished  you  to  return,  and 
whether,  if  you  did  return,  there  would  be  any  danger  to 
the  frontier.  Gen.  Clark  and  Gen.  Atkinson,  whom  you  know, 
have  informed  me  that  Keokuk,  your  principal  chief,  and  the 


81H 


TIIK   MVKS  OF    nX.SCK    HAWK    AND    KKOKITK! 


rest  of  your  poople,  arc  nnxiouH  }oii  nhoiild  rt'turn,  niid  K«>ttktik 
liHS  UHkeil  inu  to  hciuI  you  buck.  Voiir  oliii'tH  have  ]>l«>t|^f(>i| 
theiiiBclvvK  tor  yotir  good  conduct  and  I  havu  given  dirt'ctioiio 
that  you  Hliould  bo  taken  to  your  own  country. 

''  Major  (larland,  who  is  with  you,  will  conduct  you  throii^li 
Homo  of  our  towuH.  You  will  hoc  the  Htrength  of  tho  wliito 
people.  You  will  see  that  our  young  men  are  at)  nunicrouH  m 
the  leaves  in  tho  woods.  What  can  you  do  against  uhj  ^'oii 
may  kill  a  few  women  and  children,  but  such  a  force  will  Koon 
be  sent  against  you  as  would  destroy  your  whole  tribe.  Let 
tho  red  men  hunt  and  take  care  of  their  families;  but  I  h<)|)o 
they  will  not  again  raise  their  hands  against  their  white 
brethren.  We  do  not  wish  to  injure  you.  We  desire  your 
prosperity  and  improvement.  But  if  you  again  plunge  your 
knives  into  the  breasts  of  our  peciple,  I  shall  send  a  force  wiiic-h 
will  severely  punish  yoti  for  all  your  cruelties.  When  you  ^n 
back,  listen  to  the  counsels  of  Keokuk  and  tlie  other  friendly 
chiefs.  Bury  the  tomahawk  and  live  in  peace  with  the  frontier, 
and  I  pray  the  Great  Spirit  to  give  you  a  smooth  path  and  a 
fair  sky  to  return." 

Black  Hawk  and  the  prophet  both  replied  to  this  speech, 
promising  not  to  go  to  war  again.  The  captives  were  next 
conducted  to  Philadelphia,  where  they  arrived  on  the  tenth  of 
June,  and  remained  at  Congress  Hall  until  the  fourteenth. 
While  in  this  city  they  were  taken  to  see  all  the  features  of 
interest,  and  before  they  left  they  had  the  pleasure  of  witness- 
ing a  grand  military  display  in  front  of  the  quarters.  Hlack 
Hawk  at  once  inquired  whether  or  not  these  were  the  soldiers 
who  had  conquered  him  and  his  warriors  on  the  previous  sum- 
mer.    In  speaking  of  his  war  lie  said : 

"  My  heart  grew  bitter  against  the  whites  and  my  hands 
were  strong.  I  dug  up  the  tomahawk  and  led  my  warriors  to 
fight.  I  fought  hard;  I  was  no  coward.  Much  blood  was 
shed.  But  the  white  men  were  mighty.  TliCy  were  as  many 
as  the  leaves  in  the  forest.  I  and  my  people  failed.  I  am 
sorry  the  tomahawk  was  raised.  I  have  been  a  prisoner.  I 
see  the  strength  of  the  white  men ;  they  are  many,  very  many. 
The  Indians  are  but  few;  they  are  not  cowards;  they  are  braves; 


OR,    TIIK    liOKriKK    WARM   Of   TWO   CKNTfltlKP. 


ei» 


but  tli«y  lire  ft-w.  WliiU'  the  (in-ut  Spirit  ubovc  koopH  my 
hfiirt  UM  it  now  ih,  I  will  ho  the  white  iniiirH  frietxi.  I  will 
retiiuiri  in  peace.  I  will  ^o  to  my  people  iiiid  xpcuk  ^uod  of 
the  white  innii.  I  will  tell  thetn  they  are  aH  the  leaven  t»t'  the 
t'urerit,  very  many,  very  Htron^,  and  that  I  will  fi^ht  no  more 
n^aiuMt  them/' 

They  were  next  taken  to  Now  York  city,  where,  immediately 
upon  their  arrival,  they  had  the  pleaniire  ot'  witneHHin^  a  haU 
luon  aBCcnsion  at  CaHtlo  Ganlen.  Thin  novel  Hi^ht  greatly 
pleased  the  red  men,  and  one  of  them  appealed  to  the  prophet 
to  know  if  the  air  ship  wan  *' going  to  see  the  (Iroat  Spirit.'* 
When  the  crowd  ascertained  that  Hhw^k  Hawk  was  present, 
the  air  was  rent  wiUi  shouts  of  welcome,  and  the  press  of  the 
multitude  to  see  the  strangers  was  so  great  that  they  could 
not  reach  their  lodgings  until  placed  in  carriages  and  com- 
mitted to  the  care  of  the  police.  It  was  with  much  difficulty 
that  they  reached  the  Exchange  Hotel,  which  was  immediately 
Burroundcd  by  thousands  who  would  not  be  dispersed  until 
"General  filack  Hawk"  would  show  himself,  which  he  did. 
While  in  ^few  York  they  were  treated  with  many  civilities. 
They  were  conducted  to  all  public  places  of  interest,  and  were 
much  pleased  with  their  visit. 

The  party  was  conducted  to  Albany,  Buffalo,  and  thence  to 
Fort  Armstrong,  on  Rock  Island,  where  they  arrived  about 
the  middle  of  August.  *'  In  passing  by  the  site  of  the  old 
Sac  village,  Black  Hawk  was  deeply  aifected,  and  expressed 
much  regret  for  the  causes  which  compelled  him  to  emigrate 
beyond  the  Mississippi.  The  return  of  the  prophet  was  also 
attended  with  melancholy  associations.  His  village,  over  which 
he  had  long  presided,  wad  entirely  broken  up,  his  wigwam  in 
tiBJies,  his  family  dispersed  and  he  a  suppliant  for  a  home  in 
the  village  of  some  other  chief." 


t 


i 


OIIAPTKU    XL.  • 

Okhkmonim  or  Liukhatimo  IIi.ack  llAWk  -  Kkokuk'h  Tkii'mpii  — 
Black  IIawk'h  Anoku— ifK  wii.i,  ndt  <  unkdhm  t<»  tiik  ('niNcii^ 
or  KKOKitK  — IIiH  HrKK(7ii  — IIk  DKrAiiXH  to  IIim  SqUAWH— Inticii- 

RIITINO    InoIDKNTH    AT    HtK'K    IdI.ANI). 

FoBT  Armhtrono  Imd  1>cimi  choKun  an  thu  proper  pliico  for 
the  cerenioniuH  of  thu  liburHtion  of  Uhu'V  Iliiwk  uikI  IiIk  partv. 
ItH  cvntrnl  poHition  eiuihlud  th»  coiiuiniii(l«'r  to  HUHCtiilile  the 
Burrounding  IiulianH  ut  bhort  notice,  niniierB  being  Ht>iir  out 
for  that  purpose.  The  tir«t  to  arrive  were  the  friendly  Krokiik 
and  his  l)and.  He  ascended  the  MissiKHippi  by  water,  ami  led 
the  van  with  two  hirge  canoes  laHhed  side  by  side,  liandsoiiicly 
decorated,  with  a  canopy  erected  over  them,  "beneath  which 
Hilt  the  chief  and  Lis  three  wives,  witli  the  AiniM-ican  tlag 
waving  over  thetn.  More  than  twenty  canoes  followed  the 
chieftain,  each  containing  from  four  to  eight  of  his  warriurs, 
whose  sliouts  and  songs  swept  over  the  transpurcMit  waters  of 
the  Mississippi  and  were  echoed  from  shore  to  8li()re,"  The 
little  fleet  passed  slowly  up  the  river,  opposite  the  camp  of  the 
captives,  and  landed  on  the  west  side  of  the  irivor.  At  this 
place  Keokuk  and  his  party  spent  several  hours  in  arranging 
their  dress,  painting  and  equipping  themselves  for  the  occa- 
sion.  Wlien  this  important  duty  had  been  completed  they 
crossed  the  river.  Reaching  the  bank  the  great  Keokuk  turned 
to  his  followers  and  said:  "The  Great  Spirit  has  sent  our 
brother  back;  let  us  shake  hands  with  him  in  friendship." 
He  then  approached  Black  Hawk,  followed  by  his  wnniors. 
The  old  chief  was  seated  in  front  of  his  temporury  lodge,  Kiir- 
rounded  by  his  followers,  and  iippeared  to  bo  deej)ly  art'ectcd 
by  the  sC/Cne.  Now  the  rivals  met  face  to  face — Keokuk  in  his 
glory  and  Black  Hawk  in  disgrace,  fallen,  forsaken  1    But  t)ie 

(820) 


<»K,    rilK    M«»KI»KK    W\H»   nV  TW«»   I'ltJirrrHIMt. 


B91 


piniiil  niliT  ilitl  lint  fxiilr  ill  IiIh  wi<ll-iiii>ritf<l  triiiiiipli.  Ap* 
|in>iiiliiti^  tli«*  oM  oliii't',  Kt'okiik  Htri't('lii<«l  forth  liin  liAri*!  in 
tiii'riii>*liip,  wliicli  Mliick  lliiwk  ^ruiipctj  witli  li  ilr)(r<*u  of  conii- 
ality.  Ki'okiik  iin*l  liix  tollnwcrM  tli*>ii  ttNik  im>hU,  wliidi  wm 
tii||i)\v<Mi  Ity  II  Imi^  Kill>ll(•«^  Tlitt  pip<*  whm  ligliUtil  and  phmhihI 
tVoiii  liainl  to  IiuikI,  followiMJ  ))>'  frlrndly  MMitiiiiriitN  (txpn>i*M(*<i 
liv  Ixith  piirtiifH.  At  liiii^tli  Ki>okiik  iiroM*  uiul  Hlimtk  IihikIh 
with  tlio  fiillrii  cliiid',  >tuyii%  "  Wu  will  n'turii  to-morrt»w." 
Ill'  tlion  ro-(ironMi'<l  t\w  rivor  to  Iiim  own  cuinp. 

Oil  till)  following  (Ihv  tli(>  ^(rtiiitl  coiiii(!il  for  tiiu  til>or»tion 
of  llu'  ciiptiveH  wiw  li«ld.  "  It  pri'H««nti'<l,"  Huys  Mr.  (^inclin, 
"till'  iiovdI  Hpuctnolu  of  H  chiuf, '(•oiiiptOluil  hy  ii  tliird  power,  to 
ii(>kti<)wl(Ml^o  tliu  Hiitliority  t>f  ii  riviil,  an<l  foriimlly  (U'MciMid 
frniii  tlitt  rank  which  h«!  hud  loii^  HiiHtiiiiu>d  among  hJH  |M>oplu. 
Fort  AriiiHtroni;  pi'i>H«'iit(>d  ii  i!oiiitno<iioiiM  room  for  the  cure- 
iiioiiiuH  of  the  <liiy,  iitid  it  wiih  fitted  np  for  the  occuHion. 
Altotit  ten  (Tcloek  in  the  forenoon  Keokuk  utid  one  hundred 
I'ldlowerH  recroHHed  the  river  and  proc'ee(U'<l  in  martial  array 
to  the  j^arrirt«»n.  They  were  eomlncted  into  the  council  room 
iind  rtliown  the  Heats  which  tlusy  were  to  occupy.  Ke(»kuk  was 
Kt'iUcd  with  PaHliepahow  (the  Stahber)  on  one  side,  Wapellar 
(tluf  Little  Prince)  on  the  other — tlie  f(>riiier  a  chief  of  the  Sacu, 
tlu!  latter  of  the  Foxoh.  The  remainder  of  liiu  band  took  their 
m\U  in  the  rear,  and  niaiiitaiiie<l  throughout  the  ceremony 
|>rotoiiii(l  Bilence." 

Ill  a  few  iiiinuteH  Rlack  Hawk  and  IiIh  followei'H  came  into 
the  council.  As  they  entered,  Keokuk  and  the  two  cliiefH  by 
hiH  Hide  roHe  and  greeted  them.  The  old  chief  and  IiIh  aB»oci- 
atcH  were  seated  directly  oppiuito  Keokuk,  l^lack  Hawk  was 
uccoinpanied  by  his  son,  Nasinewiskuk,  and  both  appeared  to 
k'  dinpleased.  They  had,  the  day  previous,  oftered  great  objec 
tioiiH  to  the  council,  saying  it  was  altogether  unnecessary  and 
W(nild  be  very  painful  to  tliem,  and  it  was  now  with  the 
greatest  reluctance  that  they  came  into  it. 

For  several  minutes  a  profound  silence  reigned  over  the 
Msembly,  at  the  end  of  wliich  Major  Garland  rose  and  addressed 
the  council.  He  said  lie  was  pleased  to  see  the  Sacs  and  Foxes 
greet  !>hick  Hawk  with  friendship,  and  he  believed  that  here- 


322 


THK    MVKH   OK    Hr,ACK    HAWK    AND    KHOKUK! 


after  tUtty  would  live  in  peace.  At  this  point  Major  ^iarland 
cauKed  the  8i>eech  delivered  to  Black  Hawk  at  Baltimore  by  the 
President  to  be  a;^ain  interpreted  to  him.  This  ended,  K<;okiik 
rose,  and  after  bhakin^  hands  with  those  around   him,  8aiii: 

"I  have  listened  to  the  talk  of  our  great  father.  It  i»  true 
we  pledged  our  honor,  with  those  of  our  voung  braves,  for  tht 
liberation  of  our  friends.  We  thought  much  of  it;  our  (.oun. 
oils  were  long;  their  wives  and  childred  were  in  our  tliouglit*; 
when  we  talked  of  them  our  hearts  we/e  full.  Their  wives 
and  children  came  to  see  us,  which  made  us  feel  like  women; 
but  we  were  men.  The  words  which  we  sent  to  our  great 
father  were  gof>d;  he  spoke  like  the  father  of  children.  The 
Great  Spirit  made  his  heart  big  in  council.  We  receive<l  our 
brotliers  in  friendship;  our  hearts  were  good  towards  them. 
They  once  listened  to  bad  council;  now  their  ears  an?  cloo^^J. 
I  give  my  hand  to  them;  when  they  shake  it  they  sliake  the 
hands  of  all!  I  will  shake  hands  with  them  and  then  1  am 
dtme." 

Major  Garland  again  rose  and  said  that  thu  President,  their 
great  father,  would  hereafter  recognize  Keokuk  as  the  principal 
chief  of  the  Sac  and  Vox  nations,  and  that  he  wished  and 
exj>ected  that  Black  Hawk  would  conform  to  his  frival't't 
councils.  All  unfriendly  feelings  between  them  must  k 
buried,  and  the  band  of  Black  Hawk  must  be  hereafter  merjred 
in  that  of  Keokuk.  And  just  here  I  cannot  resist  from  making 
a  single  comment:  Was  it  not  enough  that  Black  Hawk,  wiiose 
once  powerful  band  of  warriors  had  been  shot  down  by  Amer- 
ican soldiers,  had  been  left  without  any  followers,  that  lie  had 
Buffered  the  shatne  of  a  long,  and,  in  some  resjiects,  merciless 
confinement?  Why  crush  out  the  last  spark  of  pride  within 
him? 

On  hearing  the  words  of  Major  Garland,  the  old  chief,  who 
had  suffered  his  captivity  and  imprisonment  with  fortitude, 
lost  all  control  of  himself  and  became  deeply  excited.  The 
great  spirit  which  had  borne  him  through  the  daring  struggles 
of  his  great  war,  and  made  his  name  terrible  wherever  it  was 
spoken,  suddenly  returned  and  burst  forth  with  great  violence. 
f 


OK,    THK    BORDKK    WARS   OF   TWO   CENTCRIEB. 


828 


He  leaped  to  liin  feet,  trembling  with  anger,  his  eyes  eparkliug 
with  rage,  and  exclaimed: 

''  I  am  a  man  !  an  ohl  man !  I  will  not  conform  to  the 
coiincilH  of  any  one!  I  will  act  for  myself!  None  shall  gov- 
ern me!  I  am  old;  my  hair  is  gray.  I  once  gave  councils  to 
my  young  men.  Am  I  to  conform  to  others?  I  shall  soon  go 
to  tiie  (ireat  Spirit,  where  I  shall  be  at  rest.  What  I  said  to 
our  great  father,  I  say  again.  I  will  always  listen  to  him.  I 
am  done." 

This  speech  created  great  excitement  in  the  council,  and  the 
interjireter  was  directed  to  explain  to  Black  Hawk  that  the  Presi- 
dent had  only  requented  liim  to  listen  to  the  counsel  of  Keokuk. 
But  the  old   man  was  displeased  and  would  make  no  reply. 
Kf^jkuk  approached  him  and  whispered,  "Why  do  you  speak 
g(»  bef<»re  the  white  men;  I  will  8[>eak  for  you;  you  trembled. 
Vou  did  not  mean  what  you  said,"     Keokuk  then  took  his 
place,  and  remarked  to  the  council:     "Our  brother  has  again 
come  to  US,  has  spoken,  but  he  spoke  in  wrath.     His  tongue 
was  forked.     He  spoke  not  like  a  man — a  Sac.     He  knew  his 
words  were  bad ;  he  trembled  like  the  oak  whose  roots  have 
fjeen  wasted  away  by  many  rains.     He  is  old — what  he  said 
let  us  forget.     He  says  he  did  not  mean  it;  he  wishes  it  for- 
frotten.    I  have  spoken  for  him.    What  I  have  said  are  his  own 
words,  not  mine.     Let  us  say  he  spoke  in  council  to-day — that 
his  words  were  good.     I  have  spoken."     Several  other  speeches 
were  made,  alter  which  Major  Garland  rose  and  told  Black 
Hawk  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  go  where  he  pleased ;  that  the 
people  of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  himself,  were  pleased 
with  the  uniform  good  conduct  of  all  the  captives  while  among 
them;  that  they  were  convinced  their  hearts  were  good,  but 
they  ha<l  listened  to  l)ad  councils.     The  Major,  in  conclusion, 
said  he  hoped   that   peace   and    hannony   would    long  exist 
between  them. 
Black  Hawk  rose  in  reply,  and  made  a  short  and  appropriate 

speech,  asking  the  reporters  to  draw  a  line  over  the  speech  he 

had  made.     He  said  he  did  not  mean  it.     The  council  was  then 

broken  up. 
In  the  evening  of  the  same  day.  Major  Garland  invited  the 


324 


THE    LIVES   OF    DLAOK    HAWK    AND    KEOKUK: 


principal  chiefs  to  hifl  own  quarters,  and,  after  treating  them 
to  champagne,  all  indulged  in  speeches.  Black  Hawk,  who 
was  the  last  one  who  8poke,  said : 

"  I  feel  that  I  am  an  old  man ;  once  I  could  speak,  but  now 
I  have  but  little  to  say;  to-day  we  met  many  of  our  brothers; 
we  were  glad  to  see  them.  I  have  listened  to  what  my  broth- 
ers have  said;  their  hearts  are  good;  they  have  been  like  Sacs 
since  I  left  them;  they  have  taken  care  of  my  wife  and  chij. 
dren,  who  had  no  wigwam;  I  thank  them  for  it;  the  Great 
Spirit  knows  that  I  thank  them.  Before  the  sun  gets  behind 
the  hills  to-morrow  I  shall  see  them;  I  want  to  see  them. 
When  I  left  them  I  expected  soon  to  return;  I  told  our  great 
father  when  in  Washington,  that  I  would  listen  to  the  councils  of 
Keokuk.  I  shall  soon  be  far  away.  I  shall  have  no  village,  no 
band.  I  shall  live  alone.  What  I  said  in  council  to-day  I 
wish  forgotten.  If  it  has  been  put  on  paper,  I  wish  a  mark 
drawn  over  it;  I  did  not  mean  it.  Now  we  are  alone,  let  us 
say  we  will  forget  it.  Say  to  our  Great  Father  and  Governor 
Cass,  that  I  will  listen  to  them.  Many  years  ago  I  met  Gov- 
ernor Cass  in  councils,  far  across  the  prairies,  to  the  rising 
sun.  His  councils  were  good;  ray  ears  were  closed;  I  listened 
to  the  Great  Father  across  the  waters.  My  father  listened  to 
him  whose  band  was  large.  My  band  was  once  large;  now  I 
have  no  band.  I  and  my  son  and  all  the  party,  thank  our 
Great  Father  for  what  he  has  done.  He  is  old;  I  am  old;  we 
shall  soon  go  to  the  Great  Spirit,  where  we  shall  rest.  He 
sent  us  through  his  great  villages.  We  saw  many  of  the 
white  people,  who  treated  us  with  kindness.  We  thank  them; 
we  thank  you  and  Mr.  Sprague  for  coming  with  us.  Your 
road  was  long  and  crooked.  We  never  saw  so  many  white 
men  before.  When  you  were  with  us,  we  felt  as  though  we 
had  some  friends  among  them.  We  felt  safe;  you  knew  them 
all.  When  you  come  upon  the  Mississippi  again,  you  shall 
come  to  ray  wigwam.  I  have  now  none.  On  your  road  home, 
you  will  pass  where  my  village  was  once;  no  one  lives  there 
now;  all  are  gone.  I  give  you  my  hand;  we  may  never  meet 
again.  T  shall  long  remember  you.  The  Great  Spirit  will  be 
with  you  and  your  wives  and  children.     Before  the  sun  rises  I 


OR,    THK    BORPKR   WARS   OF   TWO   CKNTURIEfl. 


325 


ahall  go  to  my  fajnily;  my  sou  will  be  here  to  see  you  before 
we  go.  I  will  shake  hands  with  my  brothers  here,  and  then  I 
am  done." 

On  the  following  morning  Black  Hawk  crossed  the  river 
and  wasted  no  time  in  reaching  his  wife.  The  other  Indians 
also  repaired  to  their  villages. 

I  affix  to  this  chapter  the  following  article,  which  appeared 
in  the  "  Baltimore  American,"  soon  after  Black  Hawk's  death. 
The  article  was  written  by  one  acquainted  with  the  circum- 
Btance.  It  gives  an  account  of  the  death  of  Tecumseh,  und 
many  interesting  points  in  the  life  of  the  Sac  chieftain: 

"During  a  residence  of  several  years  in  what  is  now  the 
Territory  of  Iowa,  I  had  many  opportunities  of  seeing  and 
conversing  with  this  noted  warrior,  and  often  look  back  with 
J.  '"ws  of  great  pleasure  to  the  many  tokens  of  good  will  and 
1  1  ihip  that  he  has  frequently  bestowed  upon  men.  His 
wage  was  always  open  to  a  stranger,  and  he  was  ever  ready  to 
share  that  with  him  which  he  might  most  want,  either  his  furs 
and  blankets  for  a  couch,  or  his  corn  and  venison  for  a  repast. 
He  always  spoke  in  terms  of  high  regard  of  the  whites,  saying 
that  in  war  he  fought  like  a  brave  man,  but  in  peace  he  wished 
to  forget  that  his  hand  had  ever  been  raised  against  them. 
His  career  as  a  warrior  commenced  at  a  very  early  age;  when 
he  was  but  fourteen  years  old,  his  father,  Pawheese,  led  a  war 
party  against  the  Osages,  in  which  expedition  he  accompanied 
liim.  They  succeeded  in  reaching  the  village  of  Osages,  which 
they  attacked,  and  after  a  very  severe  encounter,  they  routed 
their  enemies  and  burnt  their  town.  In  this  battle  Black 
Hawk's  father  was  killed,  but  he  revenged  his  death  by  killing 
and  scalping  the  Osage  who  had  slain  him.  He  was  fond  of 
recounting  his  earlier  exploits,  and  often  boasted  of  his  being 
at  tho  right  hand  of  Tecumseh,  when  the  latter  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  the  Thames.  His  account  of  the  death  of  this 
distinguished  warrior^  was  related  to  me  by  himself,  during  an 
evening  that  I  spent  in  his  lodge  some  winters  ago.  In  the 
course  of  our  talk,  I  asked  him  if  he  was  with  Tecumseh  when 
he  was  killed.  He  replied: 
" '  I  was,  and  I  will  now  tell  you  all  about  it.     Tecumseh, 


826 


TIIK    I.IVES   OK    HKACK    HAWK    AND    KKOKI'K: 


Slmubinne  and  Caldwell,  two  Pottawatomie  chiefs,  and  myself, 
were  seated  on  a  log  near  our  camp  lire,  tilling  our  pipes  for  a 
smoke,  on  the  morning  of  the  battle,  when  word  came  from 
the  British  general,  that  he  wished  to  speak  with  Tecuniseii. 
He  went  immediately,  and  after  staying  some  time  rejoined  us, 
taking  his  seat  without  saying  a  word,  wlien  Caldwell,  who 
was  one  of  his  favorites,  observed  to  him,  *my  father,  what 
are  we  to  do?    Shall  we  fight  the  Americans?'     *  Yes,  my  sou,' 
replied  Tecumseh,  '  we  shall  go  into  their  very  smoke — but  you 
are^now  wanted  by  the  general.     Go,  my  son,  I  never  expect  to 
see  you  again.'     Shortly  after  this  (foiitinued  Black  Hawk,)  the 
Indian  spies  came  in,  and  gave  word  of  the  near  approach  of 
the  Americans.    Tecumseh  immediately  posted  his  men  in  the 
edge  of  a  swamp,  which  flanked  the  British  line,  placing  him- 
self at  their  head.     I  was  a  little  to  his  right,  with  a  small 
party  of  Sacs.     It  was  not  long  before  the  Americans  made 
their  appearance;  they  did  not  perceive  us  at  first,  hid  as  we 
were  by  the  undergrowth,  but  we  soon  let  them  know  where 
we  were  by  pouring  in  one  or  two  volleys  as  they  were  fonning 
into  a  line  to  oppose  the  British.     They  faltered  a  little,  but 
very  soon  we  perceived  a  large  body  of  horse  (Col.  Johnson's 
regiment  of  mounted  Kentuckians)  preparing  to  charge  upon 
us  in  the  swamp.     They  came  bravely  on,  yet  we  never  stirred 
until  they  wore  so  close  that  we  could  see  the  flints  of  their 
guns,  when  Tecumseh,  springing  to  his  feet,  gave  the  Shaw- 
anoe  war  cry,  and  discharged  his  rifle.     This  was  the  signal  for 
us  to  commence  the  fight;  but  it  did  not  last  long;  the  Amer- 
icans answered  the  shout,  returning  our  fire,  and  at  the  iirst 
discharge  of  their  guns,  I  saw  Tecumseh  stagger  forwards  over 
a  fallen  tree  near  which  he  was  standing,  letting  his  rifle  drop 
to  his  feet.     As  soon  as  the  Indians  discovered  he  was  killed, 
a  sudden  fear  came  over  them,  and  thinking  that  the  Great 
Spirit  was  displeased,  they  fought  no  longer,  and  were  quickly 
put  to  flight.    That  night  we  returned  to  bury  our  dead,  and 
search  for  the  body  of  Tecumseh.     He  was  found  lying  where 
he  had  first  fallen;  a  bullet  had  struck  him  above  the  hip,  and 
his  skull  had  been  broken  by  the  butt  end  of  the  gun  of  some 
Boldier,  who  had  found  him,  perhaps,  when  life  was  not  yet 


OR,   TIIK    UOKDKU    WARM   oK   TWO   CKNTirKIICt). 


827 


quite  gone.  With  the  exception  of  theoe  wounds,  his  body 
was  untouched;  lying  near  him,  however,  was  a  large,  fine 
looking  Pottawatomie,  who  had  been  killed,  docked  off  in  his 
plumes  and  war  paint,  whom  the  Americanu  no  doubt  had 
taken  for  Tecumseh;  for  he  was  scalped,  and  every  particle  of 
8kin  tltiyed  from  his  body.  Tecumseh  himself,  had  no  orna- 
ments about  his  person  save  a  British  medal.  During  tiie 
night  we  buried  our  dead,  and  brought  off  the  body  of  Tecum- 
seh, although  we  were  within  sight  of  the  tires  of  the  American 
camp.'  * 

"This  is  somewhat  different  from  the  account  which  is  com- 
monly given  of  Tecumseh's  death,  yet  1  believe  it  to  be  true; 
for  after  hearing  Black  Hawk  relate  it,  I  heard  it  corroborated 
by  one  of  the  Pottawatomie  chiefs,  mentioned  by  him.  I  asked 
him  if  he  had  ever  fought  against  the  whites  after  the  death  of 
Tecumseh.  He  said  not — that  ho  returned  home  to  his  village 
on  the  Mississippi,  at  the  mouth  of  Rock  river,  and  there  he 
remained  until  driven  away  by  the  whites,  in  the  year  1832. 
The  'vish  to  hold  possession  of  this  village,  was  the  cause  of 
the  war  which  he  waged  against  the  whites  during  that  year. 
He  told  me  that  he  never  wished  to  fight;  that  he  was  made 
to  do  so;  that  the  whites  killed  his  warriors  when  they  went 
with  a  white  flag  to  beg  a  parley,  and  that  after  this  was  done, 
he  tliought  they  intended  to  kill  him  at  all  events,  and  there- 
fore he  would  die  like  a  warrior. 

"  In  speaking  of  his  defeat,  he  saM  it  was  what  he  expected; 
that  he  did  not  mind  it;  but  what  hurt  him  more  than  any- 
thing else,  was  our  government  degrading  him  in  the  eyes  of 
his  own  people,  and  setting  another  chief  (Keokuk)  over  him. 
This  degradation  he  appeared  to  feel  very  sensibly,  still  he  con- 
tinued to  possess  all  his  native  pride.  One  instance  that  came 
under  my  observation,  I  recollect  well,  in  which  it  was  strongly 
displayed.     He  happened  to  be  in  a  small  town  in  Iowa,  on 

the  same  day  in  which  a  party  of  dragoons,  under  Capt. 

arrived ;  and  in  paying  a  visit  to  a  friend  with  whom  he  always 
partook  of  a  meal,  whenever  he  stopped  at  the  village,  he  met 
with  the  captain,  who  had  been  invited  to  dine.  Black  Hawk 
remained,  also  expecting  the  usual  invitation  to  stay  and  eat 


3»8 


TIIR   LIVKH   OP    III.AOK    HAWK    AND    KKoKUK! 


•i  ■ 


with  them;  but  when  the  dinner  wao  renily,  the  host  took  liim 
aside,  and  told  him  the  captuin,  or  rather  the  white  man*8  cliicf, 
wa8  to  dine  with  him  that  day,  and  he  must  wait  until  they 
had  linighed.  The  old  chief's  eye  glistened  with  anger  h8  he 
answered  him,  raising  the  forefinger  of  one  hand  to  his  hreAHt, 
to  represent  the  otlicer,  '  I  know  the  white  man  in  a  chief,  but 
/,'  elevating  the  finger  of  the  other  hand  far  above  hin  head, 
*  was  a  chief,  and  led  my  warriors  to  the  tight  long  before  his 
mother  knew  him.  Your  tnecU — my  dogs  should  not  eat  UP 
Saying  this,  he  gathered  the  folds  of  his  blanket  about  him, 
and  stalked  off,  looking  as  proudly  as  if  he  still  walked  over 
ground  that  he  could  call '  mnj  own* 

"  Black  Hawk  possessed,  to  a  great  degree,  one  fine  trait 
which  is  not  usual  for  us  to  concede  to  the  indian — kindness 
and  affection  for  his  wife.  He  never  had  but  one,  and  with 
her  he  lived  for  upwards  of  forty  years;  they  had  several  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  still  survive,  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 
The  eldest  son  is  now  one  of  the  most  promising  young  braves 
of  the  nation,  and  bids  fair  to  be  one  of  its  most  noble  men. 
The  daughter  is  still  quite  young,  and  is  considered  to  be  the 
most  beautiful  maiden  belonging  to  her  tribe. 

"  He  has  now  departed  on  his  long  journey,  to  join  those  of 
his  people  who  have  gone  before  him  to  the  happy  hunting 
grounds,  far  beyond  the  setting  sun.  May  the  Great  Spirit 
grant  him  a  clear  sunshine,  and  a  smooth  path." 

In  addition  to  this,  it  will  be  proper  to  add  that  in  Septem- 
ber, 1838,  while  on  his  way  to  Hock  Island  to  receive  his 
portion  of  the  annual  payment,  he  took  a  heavy  cold,  which 
resulted  in  a  fatal  attack  of  bilious  fever,  which  terminated  his 
life  on  the  third  of  October,  after  an  illness  of  only  a  few  days. 
His  wife,  who  was  devotedly  attached  to  him,  mourned  deeply 
during  his  sickness.  She  said  on  the  day  before  he  died,  ''  he 
is  getting  old,  he  must  die.  Monotah  calls  him  home."  After 
his  death,  he  was  dressed  in  the  uniform  presented  to  him  by 
the  President  while  in  "Washington,  and  buried.  "  The  grave 
was  six  feet  deep,  and  of  the  usual  length,  situated  upon  a  little 
eminence  about  fifty  yards  from  his  wigwam.  The  body  was 
placed  in  the  middle  of  the  grave,  in  a  sitting  posture,  upon  a 


OR,   TIIK    IIOKnKK   WAKH  UP   TWO  (TKNTtrKIKB. 


820 


Beat,  uoiiHtructud  for  the  purpose.  On  his  loft  sidp,  the  cane, 
given  him  by  Henry  Clay,  was  placed  upright,  witii  his  right 
liatid  resting  upon  it.  Many  of  the  old  warrior's  trophies  were 
pUcod  in  the  grave,  and  some  Indian  garments,  together  with 
liis  favorite  weapons." 


IP  > 


i 


CHAPTER    XLi. 

Immav  Tribm  Wbst  of  the  MiMiHBirri— The  Mandami,  thrtr 
DwRLLiNas,  Manners  and  Cubtoma— Tueir  Traditions  of  thk 
Flood  — Theih   Singular   Ceremonies  — How  tuet   were  Db- 

STROTED  — TuEIH   SUPPOSED  ORIGIN. 

Having  reached  the  projier  point,  I  will  now  interrupt  the 
narrative  to  ^ive  the  reader  a  very  brief  history  of  the  tribes 
of  Indians  which  existed  in  that  vast  territory  between  tho 
Mississippi  and  the  Pacillc  coast  about  the  year  1800.  But  in 
this  undertaking  I  find  myself  surrounded  with  difficulties  of 
a  kind  not  encountered  in  the  review  of  the  tribes  east  of  the 
Mississippi  at  the  beginning  of  this  work,  as  the  tribal  diviBions 
of  the  Western  Indians  are,  both  in  language  and  customs  less 
distinguishing  than  those  of  the  former.  Yet,  avoiding  the 
finer  details  of  difference,  we  shall  have  but  little  difficulty  in 
presenting  the  general  characteristics  of  the  various  nations 
of  the  great  West.  It  will  be  difficult,  however,  to  give  any 
boundaries  of  territory  owned  or  occupied  by  these  nations  as, 
either  by  their  roving  habits  or  by  the  results  of  conquest,  they 
were  continually  changing  their  abode.  Along  the  borders  of 
the  Missouri,  and  high  up  the  western  tributaries  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, we  find  the  various  tribes  belonging  to  the  Sioux  or 
Dahcotah  nation,  called  by  the  early  explorers  and  travelers, 
Naudowesses.  These  Indians  lived  principally  by  the  chase,  a 
few  only  practicing  any  degree  of  husbandry.  The  tribal 
divisions  of  this  nation  were  as  follows:  the  Waupeentowas, 
the  Tintons,  the  Afracootans,  the  Mawhaws,  (called  by  some  the 
Omawhas,)  and  the  Schians.  These  tribes,  with  a  few  excep- 
tions, dwelt  in  the  prairie  country,  near  the  borders  of  the  St. 
Peter.  The  Assinaboins,  and  several  other  tribes,  were,  by 
some  of  the  oldest  writers,  classed  in  the  same  nation. 

(880^ 


OH,   THK    liOKDKK   WARH  OK  TWO  CKNTtlKIKB. 


881 


Mr.  Gallntii),  an  ablo  writer  on  tlioHO  and  other  tribes,  claaoet 
tlioin  as  follows:  The  Winnebagos,  of  Wisconsin;  the  Sioirx 
proper,  or  Dahcotas,  and  the  Assinaboins;  the  Minetari,  and 
tribes  allied  to  the  i;  and  the  Osages,  and  other  kindred  tribes. 
The  same  writer,  I  believe,  holds  that  the  Minetari  include  the 
Crows,  and  the  Mandans.  The  latter,  however,  are  a  distinct 
iiHtion,  and  differ  widely  from  all  other  Indians  in  America  in 
many  important  peculiarities.  In  1832,  we  find  the  Mandans 
situated  in  two  villages  on  the  left  bank  ot  the  Missouri,  about 
tw(j  hundred  miles  l>elow  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone.  At 
this  time  their  population  did  not  exceed  two  or  three  thou- 
gand.  However,  according  to  their  best  traditions,  and  as 
evinced  by  the  ruins  of  their  former  settlements  they  had,  at 
an  earlier  date,  been  a  populous  and  powerful  nation.  In  the 
date  above  mentioned  we  find  them  in  their  principal  town 
upon  the  Missouri  well  fortified  against  the  enemy.  Within 
the  pickets  the  houses  were  exceedingly  compact,  leaving  but 
little  room  for  the  gaudy  inhabitants  to  move  to  and  fro.  These 
dwellings  were  partially  sunk  in  the  ground,  the  roofs  being 
made  of  earth  and  clay.  On  entering  them  one  would  be  sur- 
prised with  their  neatness,  comfort  and  spacious  dimensions. 
"They  were  all  of  a  circular  form,"  says  Mr.  Catlin,  "and  are 
from  forty  to  sixty  feet  in  diameter.  Their  foundations  are 
prepared  by  digging  some  two  feet  in  the  ground  and  forming 
the  floor  of  earth  by  leveling  the  requisite  size  for  a  lodge." 
These  singular  dwellings  were  not  devoid  of  comfort.  "They 
consisted,"  says  Mr.  Brownell,  "of  a  row  of  perpendicular 
stakes  or  timbers  six  feet  or  thereabouts  in  height,  supporting 
long  rafters  for  the  roof.  A  hole  was  left  in  the  center  for  air, 
light,  and  the  escape  of  the  smoke."  Tlie  rafters  were  first 
covered  by  boughs,  and  lastly  by  earth.  A  small  excavation  in 
the  center  of  the  hut  served  as  a  fire-place.  The  furniture  was 
not  elegant,  although  comfortable.  A  rude  bedstead  was  erec- 
ted at  one  side,  abundantly  provided  with  buifalo  skins,  with 
ornamented  curtains,  not  of  European  manufacture,  for  they 
did  not  import  their  goods,  but  of  various  skins  of  wild  animals. 
"Tills  arrangement  of  beds,  and  arms,  etc.,"  says  Mr.  Catlin, 
"combining  the  most  vivid  display  and  arrangement  of  colors, 


It  ■■ 

hi 


382 


TIIK    INDIAN   TRIHKM   WKXr   oP  TIIK    MIIWIHHim: 


ot'  t'lira,  of  trinkets,  of  barhod  and  gliHteiiiiif^  poiiitM  and  >4tocl, 
of  inyBtorios  and  hocuH-pocii*,  tof^ether  with  thu  Moinhro  and 
•mokcd  color  of  tlio  roof  and  sides  of  the  lodf^e;  and  the  wild, 
and  rude,  and  red — the  graceful  (though  uncivil)  coiivorHu- 
tional,  garrulous,  st4iry-telling,  and  happy,  though  igiioruiit 
and  untutored  groups,  that  are  smoking  their  pipes— wu4»iii^ 
their  sweethearts,  and  embracing  their  little  ones  about  thoir 
peaceful  and  endeared  fire-sides;  together  with  their  pots  niid 
kottlcH,  spoons,  and  other  culinary  articles  of  their  own  manu- 
facture, around  them,  present,  altogether,  one  of  the  iijogt 
picturesque  scenes  to  the  eye  of  a  stranger  that  can  be  possibly 
seen,  and  far  more  wild  and  vivid  than  could  ever  be  imagined." 

But  if  the  interior  was  full  of  interesting  scenes,  wo  have 
only  to  open  another  book  to  find  that  the  exterior  was  nUo 
replete  with  interest.  Of  this  Mr.  Brownell  says:  "  In  tht 
center  of  the  village  an  open  court  was  letlt  for  purposes  of 
recreation  and  for  the  performances  of  the  national  religious 
ceremonies.  Upon  the  rounded  roofs  of  the  domicils  numerous 
busy  or  indolent  groups  were  sitting  or  lounging  in  every 
possible  attitude,  while  in  the  central  area  some  were  exerciaing 
their  wild  horses,  or  training  and  playing  with  their  dogs. 
Such  a  variety  of  brilliant  and  fanciful  costumes,  ormameiited 
with  plumes  and  porcupine  quills,  with  the  picturesque  throng 
of  Indians  and  animals,  the  closely  crowded  village,  the  green 
plain,  the  river,  and  the  blue  hills  in  the  distance,  formed  a 
happy  subject  for  the  artist. 

But  the  attractions  of  a  Mandan  village  were  not  all  confined 
within  the  narrow  limits  encompassed  by  the  pickets.  Out- 
side, at  a  little  distance,  could  be  seen  the  scaffolds  upon  which 
the  dead  were  placed.  The  funeral  rites  of  this  nation  were 
very  peculiar  and  not  without  interest.  The  body  of  the  dead 
person  was  wrapped  in  a  buffalo  skin,  which  included  the  anus 
used  by  the  deceased  during  his  life,  and  the  usual  pruvision 
of  tobacco,  flint  and  steel,  knife  and  food.  A  slight  scafibid 
was  arranged,  high  enough  to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  wild 
beasts,  and  there  the  body  was  placed  to  decay  in  the  open  air. 
"  Day  after  day,"  continues  Mr.  Brownell,  "  those  who  had  lost 
friends  would  come  out  from  the  village  to  this  strange  ceine- 


OK,   TIIK   IMlHhKR   WARS  oP  TWO  CINTI  HIW. 


99fi 


t«ry  to  wou|>  hikI  lM)WHii  over  thuir  Iohh.  BiicIi  ^iiuiiie  and 
loii^-contiiiiiuil  f^rivf  m  wbh  oxhihittHl  hy  thu  HtHicted  rektiveit, 
putH  to  ttliAine  the  colil-liciirtotlncitM  of  too  inaiiv  HUu>Mf(  the 
ciiltivate<l  and  vnlightuiiod.  When,  after  the  lapoo  of  yoam, 
the  icaflolda  had  fallen,  and  nothing  was  left  but  bluaehfil  and 
mouldering  Inmes,  the  rentnins  were  buried,  witli  the  oxuop- 
tion  of  the  skulls.  These  were  placed  in  circles  u)K>n  the 
pJHin,  with  the  faces  turned  inward,  each  resting  upon  a  bunch 
of  wild  sage;  and  in  the  center,  upon  two  Hlight  nioun<lH, 
Mnc<licine-piles'  were  erected,  at  the  foot  of  which  were  the 
liomU  and  horns  of  a  male  and  fetnale  buffalo.  To  these  new 
places  of  deposit,  each  of  which  contained  not  far  from  one 
liuiiilred  skulls,  do  these  people  again  resort  to  evince  their 
further  affection  for  the  dead — not  in  groans  and  lamentations, 
liuwever,  for  several  years  have  cured  the  anguish,  but  f<^nd 
affections  and  endearments  are  here  renewed,  and  conversations 
are  here  held  and  cherished  with  the  dead." 

Alone  on  that  far  distant  river's  bank,  away  from  the 
encroachments  of  civilization,  the  wife  or  mother  would  sit  for 
hours  by  the  side  of  the  skull  of  the  loved  and  lost,  addressing 
it  with  the  most  affectionate  and  loving  words,  or  perhaps 
lying  down  and  falling  asleep  with  it  in  her  embrace. 

The  Mandans  were  a  hospitable  race,  friendly  in  their  treat- 
ment of  each  otlier,  and  mindful  of  the  wants  of  travelers. 
They  were  for  the  most  part  a  fine  looking  people,  many  of 
their  women  being  very  handsome.  With  a  few  exceptions, 
they  were  a  clean,  tidy  people.  They  indulged  in  all  the 
elaboration  of  the  war-paint  and  dress,  and  were  exceedingly 
proud  of  their  appearance. 

Tiie  custom  of  polygamy  was  universal  among  the  Mandans 
by  all  whose  native  vigor  procured  them  rank.  The  girls  were 
usually  sold  at  prices  in  proportion  to  their  beauty  by  their 
parents  at  a  very  early  age,  and  as  among  the  Eastern  nations 
of  savages,  their  fate  was  a  life  of  toil  and  hardship.  Never- 
theless, "amongst  them  respectable  virtue  was  as  highly 
cherished  and  as  inapproachable  as  in  any  society  whatever." 
The  white  traders  and  travelers  who  went  among  them,  either 
from  policy  or  inclination,  allied  themselves  to  one  or  more  of 


8B4 


TIIK    INPIAN    TKIIIKN    WKirr   Of   TIIK    MIMIIMMIITi: 


the  principAl  chiutii  Uy  a  temporiiry  ot|)<>UMnt  of  hiit  (iHiif(l)ti>r. 
"  In  many  iiiiUncet  they  Indiiln^l  in  n  plurnlity.*'  Thix  wiu 
a  position  greatly  lought  Htter  by  the  (UiighttTH  of  tlio  rhicfn, 
M  it  afforded  them  a  fi^d  opportunity  for  idleneHU  iind  orim- 
tncnttttion.  Gainet  were  largely  practiced  among  the  iMiytt  uihI 
young  men.  An  endless  variety  of  dances,  with  vmuil  mid 
instrumental  music,  mingled  with  their  recreations  and  rclj. 
gious  ceremonies.  When  game  wis  scarce,  or  when  the  ImtfHlo 
herds  had  wandered  far  away  fro'n  the  vicinitv  of  their  vlllii^i>, 
these  superstitious  savages  wtx.ld  perform  the  *' butfulo  diincv" 
in  the  central  arena  of  their  village.  On  thiH  occasion  every 
ukan  in  the  tribe  wore  a  mask  made  from  the  skin  of  u  hurtiilo'H 
heiid,  including  the  horns.  "  When  the  wise  men  of  thcnntion 
determined  upon  their  vocations  to  attack  the  buftiilo  hordx," 
says  Brownell, 'Mvatchors  were  stationed  upon  the  eiiiiiii>ncefl 
surrounding  the  villages  and  the  dance  commenced.  With 
extravagant  actions  and  strange  ejaculatiouH  the  crowd  per- 
formed the  prescribed  maneuvers:  As  fust  as  thoH(t  cu^^a^'ed 
became  weary  they  would  signify  it  by  crouching  down,  when 
those  without  the  circle  would  go  through  the  pantomime  of 
severally  shooting,  flaying  and  dressing  them,  while  new  |)6i- 
formers  took  their  place.  Night  and  day  the  mad  woene  wtw 
kept  up,  sometimes  for  we^ks  together,  until  the  HJgtml  wtw. 
given  of  the  approach  of  buffaloes,  when  all  prepared  with 
joy  and  hilarity  for  a  grand  hunt,  fully  convince<l  that  their 
own  exertions  had  secured  the  prize."  A  ceremony  not  Um 
ridiculous  was  performed  in  case  of  a  drought,  with  a  view  to 
producing  a  rain  shower. 

Their  children  were  taught  the  principles  of  war  from  in- 
fancy, and  impressed  with  the  idea  that  true  dignity  and  glorv 
awaited  him  alone  who  could  fringe  his  garments  witii  the 
scalps  of  his  enemies.  Among  the  Mandan  warriors,  even  at 
a  recent  date,  were  some  of  the  boldest  men  of  the  forest;  the 
result,  no  doubt,  in  a  great  measure  of  their  early  training. 

The  religion  of  the  Mandans  was  similar  to  that  of  most 
of  the  Indian  tribes  already  spoken  off,  yet  many  of  their  reli- 
gious ceremonies  are  full  of  the  most  unique  sitnationH.  Tiie 
grand  four  days'  ceremony  had  three  distinct  objects:  '^a  festi- 


ON,   ttIR    N(>NI>KK    WARM  «>r   TWO   TKNTt  Mim. 


vaI  of  thttnl(i^iviiif(  tor  tliu  UHCupu  ot'  tlioir  nnceitturit  from  tlit 
ritMKi,  of  which  thuy  had  u  <liiitiiiut  tm<litiun,  itrikhigly  corn* 
furtiihlo  tu  Doriptural  hiNtoiy;"  the  grHiul  bull  cUnco  ulruad/ 
(ii'McrilNjd,  liiul  to  initUto  thu  young  inuu,  hy  ti>rribl«  triaU  and 
torturuii,  inti)  tho  ordvr  of  w«i*rior«. 

Tliit  ccroinoiiy  whh  |>t>rforinod  in  tho  >|)rin)(,  m  aoon  m  th« 
willow  trooi  on  thu  Imnk  of  tho  river  wore  in  loHf,  **for,  KCC(»rd« 
in^  to  their  tradition,*' Hay*  Catlin, '*  tho  twi^^  that  the  hird 
l>rought  huniu  wnit  ii  willow  lM)ugh  and  had  full  grown  Icavo* 
upon  it,  and  tho  hinl  to  which  they  alluclu  \»  tho  mourning  or 
turtledove,  which  they  t«M)lc  groat  (miim  tu  {K)int  out  to  mo.*' 
Tho  Hmt  porformancoH  wore,  im  I  havo  Haid,  in  reforence  to  the 
deluge,  and  in  commemoration  of  thin  ancient  event  a  lort  of 
"curb  or  hogiihoad '*  Htood  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  in 
memory  of  the  *^  big  canoe,'*  in  which  the  human  race,  includ* 
ing  tho  IndiaiiH,  was  Huved  from  a  watery  grave. 

The  Indian*  woru  not  informml  at  to  what  day  the  ceremo- 
nies would  taku  place;  but  on  a  tine  morning  the  inhabitants 
ot  the  village  would  be  all  astir  gazing  carnobtly  at  an  ap- 
preaching  tigure.  This  strange  person  would  soon  enter  within 
the  inclosed  space  of  the  village,  painteil  white  and  carrying  a 
large  pipe  in  his  hand.  This  visitor  was  saluted  by  the  prin- 
cipHi  men  of  the  village  as  '*  Numohkmuchanah  "  (Noah).  His 
iniiision  was  to  open  the  great  lodge  reserved  exclusively  for 
thu  annual  religious  ceremonies.  After  performing  this  duty 
and  promising  to  return  in  the  following  spring,  he  took  his 
departure  for  his  distant  mountain  home. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  these  curious  rites 
wtui  tho  ordeal  which  the  young  warriors  had  to  pass  in  order 
tu  qualify  them  for  the  duties  of  a  bravo.  The  candidates  for 
this  torturous  performance  were  obliged  to  abstain  from  eat- 
ing any  kind  of  food,  drinking  or  sleeping  for  three  days. 
Then  coming  forward,  the  candidates  allowed  the  flesh  of  their 
breasts  or  backs  to  be  pierced  with  rude  two-edged  knivea,  and 
rough  sticks  thrust  through  the  holes.  The  sticks  were  run 
through  the  tlesh  to  such  a  depth  as  to  be  capable  of  support- 
ing much  more  than  the  weight  of  the  body.  Cords  were 
attached  to  these  sticks,  by  which  the  sufferers  wore  hoisted  up 


836 


THE    INDIAN    TRIME8    WKUTt   OV    THK    MI88I88IIMM : 


a  considerable  distance  from  the  ground.  Similar  sticks  were 
then  thrust  through  the  flesh  of  their  legs,  to  which  hea"y 
weights  were  suspended,  among  which  were  buffalo  heads. 
Through  all  this  the  fortitude  of  the  young  Indian  enabled  him 
to  bear  the  pain  without  flinching,  but  when  in  this  horrible 
position,  with  his  flesh  tearing  by  slow  degrees  in  both  \m 
arms  and  legs,  a  number  of  attendants  commenced  turning 
him  round  and  round  with  poles,  the  pain  became  unbeata- 
ble and  the  sufterer  would  cry  out  in  agony  to  the  Great 
Spirit  for  power  to  enable  him  to  stand  the  torture.  He  was 
permitted  to  hang  in  this  position  until  entirely  unconscious, 
when  he  was  taken  down  and  the  sticks  taken  from  his  arras. 
He  was  then  compelled  to  crawl  off,  dragging  the  weights  after 
him,  as  in  no  case  were  the  sticks  in  his  legs  removed,  being 
left  until  they  should  be  dragged  out  by  the  force  of  the  weights. 
He  was  next  called  upon  to  cut  off  one  of  his  own  fingers  from 
the  left  hand;  but  this  was  perhaps  the  lightest  part  of  the 
ceremony.  "Within  the  court,"  says  Mr.  Brownell,  "a  new 
trial  awaited  him,  the  last  but  most  terrible  of  all.  An  active 
man  took  his  position  on  each  side  of  the  weak  and  mutilated 
sufferer,  and,  passing  a  thong  about  his  wrist,  urged  him  for- 
ward at  the  top  of  his  speed  in  a  tircle  around  the  arena.  When, 
faint  and  weary,  he  sank  on  the  ground,  the  tormentors  dragged 
him  furiously  around  the  ring  until  the  splints  were  torn  out 
by  the  weights  attached,  and  he  lay  motionless  and  apparently 
lifeless.  If  the  splint  should  have  been  so  deepjy  inserted  that 
no  force  —  even  that  of  the  weight  of  individuals  in  the  crowd, 
thrown  upon  the  trailing  skulls  —  could  break  the  integu- 
ments, nothing  remained  but  to  crawf  off  to  the  prairie  and 
wait  until  it  should  give  way  by  suppuration.  To  draw  the 
skewer  out  would  be  unpardonable  sacrilege.  It  is  told  of  one 
man  that  he  suspended  himself  from  the  precipitous  river  bank 
by  two  of  these  skewers,  thrust  through  his  arms,  until,  at  tlie 
end  of  several  days,  he  dropped  into  the  water  and  swam 
ashore.  Throughout  the  whole  ordeal,  the  chiefs  and  sages  of 
the  tribe  critically  observed  the  comparative  fortitude  and  en- 
durance of  the  candidates,  and  formed  their  conclusions  there- 


OK,    THE    BORDER    WARS    OK  TWO   CENTURIES. 


337 


iekrt  were 
ch  hea'7 
lo  heads, 
abled  him 
8  horrible 
both  his 
d  turning 
)  nnbeara- 
the  Great 
I.     He  was 
n  conscious, 
.  his  arms, 
eights  after 
oved,  being 
[he  weightfc. 
ingers  from 
part  of  the 
lell,  "  a  new 
An  active 
d  mutilated 
red  him  for- 
•ena.  When, 
tors  dragged 
ere  torn  out 
apparently 
nserted  that 
n  the  crowd, 
the  integu- 
prairie  and 
To  draw  the 
8  told  of  one 
river  bank 
until,  at  the 
and  swam 
.nd  sages  of 
tude  and  en- 
usions  there- 


is 


upon  as  to  which  would  be  the  worthiest  to  command  in  after 
tiino." 

The  name  author  infonua  us  that  in  the  summer  of  1838  the 
tiiniili-pox  WHS  ci>minunicated  to  the  Maiidans  from  some  in- 
fected persons  on  board  one  of  the  steamers  belonging  to  a 
company  of  fur  traders.     So  virulent  was  the  disease,  that  in 
u  few  weeks  it  swept  off  the  whole  tribe,  except  a  few  who  fell 
into  the  hands  of  their  enemies,  the  Ricarees.     One  principal 
reason  for  the  excessive  mortality  is  said  to  have  been  that 
hostile  bands  of  Indians  had  beset  the  village,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants were  consequently  unable  to  separate,  or   to  place   the 
infected  in  an  isolated  position.     The  scene  of  death,  lamenta- 
tion and  terror  is  said  by  those  who  witnessed  it  to  have  been 
frightful  in  the  extreme.     Great  numbers  perished  by  leaping 
into  the  river,  in  the  paroxysm  of  fever,  being  too  weak  to 
swim  out.     Those  who  died  in  the  village  lay  in  heaps  upon 
the  floors  of  the  huts.     Of  the  few  secured  by  the  Eicarees, 
who  took  possession  of  the  depopulated  village,  nearly  all  were 
said  to  have  been  killed  during  some  subsequent  hostilities,  so 
that  now  scarce  a  vestige  of  the  tribe  can  be  supposed  to  remain. 
The  Mandans  were  probably  all  congregated  at  their  principal 
village  at  the  time  of  the  great  calamity;  the  other  village  was 
situated  two  miles  below,  was  a  small  settlement,  and  was  used, 
as  we  are  led  to  infer,  merely  for  a  temporary  summer  resi- 
dence for  a  few  of  the  noted  families. 

Mr.  Catlin,  in  speaking  of  the  destruction  of  this  tribe  by 
the  small-pox,  says:  "There  is  yet  a  melancholy  part  of  the 
tale  to  be  told,  relating  to  the  ravages  of  this  frightful  disease 
in  that  country  on  the  same  occasion,  as  it  spread  to  other 
contiguous  tribes,  the  Minatarrees,  the  Knisteneaux,  the  Black- 
feet,  the  Chayennes  and  the  Crows,  amongst  whom  twenty-five 
thousand  perished  in  the  course  of  tour  or  five  months,  which 
most  appalling  facts  I  got  from  Major  Pilcher,  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs  at  St.  Louis,  from  Mr.  McKenzie  and  others." 
22 


ClIAPTEB    XLII. 

Sketch  of  the  Sioux  Inuianh  —  How  they  Nuhsed  their  Inkantb 
—  Leaving  thkik  Old  and  Infirm  to  Die  from  Starvation  — 
The  Peculiarities  of  the  Red-Pipe  Stone  Quarry— Suprusti- 

TIONS  OF  THE   SlOUX   REGARDING  TUB    PiPB    STONE — ThE    BuFKAW 

Hunt. 


The  Sioux  or  Dacotas,  were  at  one  time  the  most  widely 
diffused  tribe  of  Indians  of  the  West.    Their  territory  extended 
far  west  to  the  country  of  the  Blackfeet,  and  from  the  Missouri 
in  the  south  to  the  Upper  Mississippi  in  the  north.     They  sub- 
sisted entirely  by  hunting  and  lishing,  using,  until  a  recent  date, 
the  native  weapons  of  their  race.     One  of  the  most  remarkable 
traits  in  their  character  was  the  strength  of  maternal  affection. 
According  to  their  custom,  their  infants  were  carried  for  the 
first  six  or  seven  months  of  their  existence,  strapped  firmly  to 
a  board,  the  hands  and  feet  only  being  left  at  liberty.     A  small 
hoop  was  placed  over  their  faces,  so  that  in  case  they  should 
fall,  no  injury  would  be  sustained.     This  contrivance,  or  rude 
cradle,  was  almost  always  neatly  ornamented  with  fringe  or 
embroidery.     The  whole  was  suspended  upon  the  back  of  the 
mother  by  a  strap,  which  passed  around  over  her  forehead. 
After  the  child  has  reached  this  age  it  is  loosened  and  nursed 
in  the  folds  of  the  mother's  blanket  or  robe.     If  the  infant 
dies  during  the  time  that  is  allotted  to  it  to  be  carried  in  this 
cradle,  it  is  buried,  and  the  disconsolate  mother  fills  the  cradle 
with  black  quills  and  feathers,  in  the  parts  which  the  child's 
body  had  occupied,  and  in  this  way  carries  it  around  with  her 
wherever  she  goes  for  a  year  or  more,  with  as  much  care  as  if 
her  infant  were  alive  and  in  it;  and  she  often  lays  or  stands  it 
against  the  side  of  the  wigwam,  where  she  is  all  day  engaged 
with  her  needle-work,  and  chatting  and  talking  to  it  as  famil- 

(388)        .      , 


OR,   TIIK    nOROKR   WARS   OF   r»V<>   CKNTURIE8. 


389 


iarly  and  affectionately  as  if  it  wvre  lier  loved  infant,  instead 
of  its  shell,  that  she  was  talking  to.  So  lasting  and  so  strong 
is  the  affection  of  these  wotnen  for  the  lost  child,  that  it  mat- 
ters not  how  lieavy  or  cruel  their  load,  or  how  rugged  the 
route  they  have  to  pass  over,  they  will  faithfully  carry  this, 
and  carefully,  from  day  to  day,  and  even  more  strictly  perform 
their  duties  to  it,  tlian  if  the  child  were  alive  and  in  it. 

One  of  the  most  cruel  customs  among  the  Sioux  was  that 
of  leaving  their  old  and  infirm  to  die  alone,  exposed  and  unat- 
tended. The  old  sufferers  not  only  assented  to  this  proceeding, 
but  generally  suggested  it  when  conscious  that  they  were  no 
longer  able  to  support  themselves.  They  were  generally  left  with 
a  slight  protection  over  them,  with  a  little  food  by  their  side,  to 
die,  or  be  devoured  by  the  hungry  wolves.  It  was  in  the 
country  of  the  Sioux  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  high 
ridge,  called  the  Coteau  des  Prairies,  which  lies  between  the 
head  waters  of  the  St.  Peter's  and  Missouri,  that  the  far-famed 
quarry  of  red  pipe-stone  was  situated.  Pipes  made  from  this 
stone  were  common  among  all  the  "Western  tribes.  The  stone 
was  obtained  by  digging  to  a  depth  of  several  feet  in  the  prairie 
at  the  foot  of  a  precipitous  wall  of  quartz  rocks.  The  geolo- 
gical formation  of  this  spot  presents  a  singular  phenomenon, 
and  the  pipe-stone  is  of  itself  a  singular  material.  It  is  said 
to  be  harder  than  gypsum,  and  softer  than  carbonate  of  lime, 
and  is  different  from  any  other  metal  ever  discovered  by  geolo- 
gists. The  component  materials  of  this  stone,  according  to 
the  analysis  of  Dr.  Jackson,  of  Boston,  are  as  follows:  "  water, 
8,4;  silica,  i8,2;  alumina,  28.2;  magnesia,  6.0;  carbonate  of 
lime,  2.6;  peroxide  of  iron,  5.0;  oxide  of  manganese,  0.6." 

"The  Indians,"  says  Mr.  Brownell,  in  his  valuable  book, 
"use  the  stone  only  in  the  manufacture  of  pipes;  to  apply  it 
to  any  other  use  they  esteem  the  most  unheard-of  sacrilege. 
From  the  affinity  of  its  color  to  that  of  their  own  skins,  they 
draw  some  fancifnl  legend  of  its  formation,  at  the  time  of  the 
great  deluge,  out  of  the  flesh  of  the  perishing  red  men.  They 
esteem  it  one  of  the  choicest  gifts  of  the  Great  Spirit." 

Tlie  following  extracts  from  the  speeches  of  Sioux  orators, 
will  give  the  reader  a  good  idea  of  how  highly,  and  in  what 


341) 


TIIK    INDIAN    TKIHKS    WVHV    oK    TIIK    Mr«WlSsll'l'I ; 


light  the  savages  appreciated  this  stone:  "  You  see,"  said  one 
(holding  a  red  pipe  to  the  aide  of  his  naked  arm,)  "  that  this 
pipe  is  a  part  of  our  desh.  The  red  men  are  a  part  of  the  rod 
stone." 

Another  says,  "  If  the  white  men  take  away  a  piece  of  the 
red  pipe-stone,  it  is  a  hole  made  in  our  tlesh,  and  the  bluod  will 
always  run.  We  cannot  stop  the  blood  from  running.  The 
Great  Spirit  has  told  us  that  the  red  stone  is  only  to  be  used 
for  pipes,  and  through  them  we  are  to  smoke  to  him." 

We  find  another  Sioux  saying:  "  We  love  to  go  to  the  Pipe- 
Stone,  and  get  a  piece  for  our  pipes;  but  we  ask  the  Great  Spirit 
first.  If  the  white  men  go  to  it,  they  will  take  it  out,  and  not 
fill  up  the  holes  again,  and  the  Great  Sj)irit  will  be  offended." 

And  still  another:  "  My  friends,  listen  to  me!  what  I  am 
about  to  say  will  be  truth.  I  bought  a  large  piece  of  the  pipe- 
stone,  and  gave  it  to  a  white  man  to  make  a  pipe;  he  was  our 
trader,  and  I  wished  hira  to  have  a  good  pipe.  The  next  time 
I  went  to  his  store,  I  was  unhappy  when  I  saw  that  stone  made 
into  a  dish !  This  is  the  way  the  white  men  would  use  the  red 
pipe-stone  if  they  could  get  it.  Such  conduct  would  offend 
the  Great  Spirit,  and  make  a  red  man's  heart  sick." 

Buffalo  hunting  was  the  principal  occupation  of  the  Sioux, 
and  in  this  pursuit  they  were  not  excelled  by  any  other  West- 
ern tribe.  They  used  horses,  a  wild  breed  extensively  spread 
over  the  Western  country,  the  descendants  of  those  originally 
brought  over  by  the  Spaniards  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and 
were  excellent  horsemen.  These  animals  were  superior  iu 
speed  to  any  animals  on  the  Western  prairies.  Numbers  of 
them  were  kept  about  the  encampment  of  the  Indians,  hoppled, 
so  as  to  prevent  their  straying  away.  Upon  the  open  prairie, 
the  bufiPalo  were  generally  pursued  on  horseback,  the  Indians 
bedng  armed  with  the  lance  and  bow  and  arrow.  The  Indian 
would  generally  ride  furiously  on  until  he  came  within  a  few 
feet  of  his  prey,  and  then  discharging  his  arrow  with  preat 
force  into  its  side,  would  follow  it  with  his  lance,  which  gener- 
ally proved  fatal.  This  pursuit  was  not  without  danger,  for 
oftimes  both  horse  and  rider  would  fall  a  prey  to  the  dangerous 


OR,   TIIK   BORPRK    WARS   OF   TWO    CKNTITRIKS. 


341 


HiiM  one 
;hat  this 
■  the  red 

ee  of  the 
>lood  will 
ng.  The 
,0  be  used 

the  Pipe- 
reat  Spirit 
it,  and  not 
offended." 
what  I  am 
ft'  the  pipe- 
he  was  our 
3  next  time 
stono  made 
use  the  red 

,uld  offend 


animal.  Yet  such  was  the  excitement  of  the  savages  while 
in  the  chase,  that  tliey  seemed  to  he  regardless  of  all  danger. 

In  the  winter  season  the  buffalo  hunt  was  managed  on  a 
different  plan.  Tliey  were  generally  driven  from  the  liigh 
ritlpjes,  where  they  had  gathered  to  feed  upon  the  herbage,  into 
the  snow-covered  prairies,  where,  floundering  in  tlie  deep  snow, 
they  were  soon  overtaken  by  the  savages  on  their  snow  shoes, 
and  picked  off  by  the  arrow  and  lance.  "  When  buffaloes  are 
plenty,"  says  the  autlior  from  whom  I  have  just  quoted,  "  and 
the  Indians  have  fair  opportunity,  the  most  astonishing  and 
wasteful  slaughter  ensues.  Besides  the  ordinary  methods  of 
destruction,  the  custom  of  driving  immense  herds  over  some 
precipitous  ledge,  where  those  behind  trample  down  and  thrust 
over  the  foremost,  until  hundreds  and  thousands  are  destroyed, 
has  been  often  described." 

Some  early  writers  have  severely  censured  savage  improvi- 
dence in  this  regard,  on  the  grounds  that  in  a  few  years  they 
would  be  left  without  the  means  of  subsistence.  But  we  have 
lived  to  see  the  Indians  imprudently  destroyed,  long  before 
they  had  killed  half  the  buffaloes  of  the  Western  prairies. 


CIIArTER    XLIIl. 


TnK  CnowB  and  tiik  Bi.ackpkkt— TiiKin  Mytiib  and  tiirir  Waus  — 
Charaotrristics  op  tiikhk  Tribkh  — Intkrkstino  Inciukntb, 

We  now  come  to  notice  the  tribes  upon  the  Yellowstone  and 
the  liead  waters  of  the  Missouri.  Among  the  most  noted  of 
these  were  the  Crows  and  the  Blackfeet,  and  their  neighbors 
and  enemies,  the  Ojibwas,  Knisteneaux,  and  Assinaboins. 
In  1834,  tlie  numbers  of  the  Blackfeet  exceeded  twenty  thou- 
sand,  but  the  small-pox,  in  1838,  reduced  their  number  to  about 
thirteen  thousand.  The  Blackfeet,  being  farthest  removed 
from  the  influences  of  civilization,  presented  many  tine  speci- 
mens of  the  Indian  race.  They  were  of  manly  proportions, 
active,  and  capable  of  grea*,  endurance.  Their  dress  was  both 
comfortable  and  ornamental,  "  bedecked  with  all  the  em- 
broidery and  fixings  characteristic  of  savage  finery."  Their 
dwellings,  means  of  subsistence,  customs,  etc.,  were  so  nearly 
like  those  tribes  already  mentioned  that  any  particulars  con- 
cerning them  in  this  place  will  be  superfluous.  There  wei 
however,  a  few  points  of  difference  which  I  shall  not  fail  to 
mention.  Their  lodges  were  generally  made  of  buffalo  skins. 
supported  by  firm  poles,  which  they  brought  from  the  distant 
mountains.  The  skins  were  strongly  stitched  togetiier,  and 
highly  ornamented.  The  tents  were  easily  moved  by  making 
the  poles  into  one  bundle  and  the  skins  into  another. 

Among  these  very  remote  tribes  might  have  been  found  ai  a 
late  day  many  of  the  ancient  superstitous  observances  of  tlieir 
race,  retained  with  all  their  original  solemnity.  One  of  the 
most  singular  of  these,  says  Mr.  Brownell,  is  the  preparation 
of  the  "  medicine-bag,"  which  every  man  carried  with  him 
upon  all  occasions,  as  being  intricately  involved  with  his  own 
safety  and  success  in  war,  hunting,  or  any  of  the  occuptions 

(342) 


oil,   TIIK    IIOKDKIt    WAKH   OV  TWO   OKNTIIKIKH. 


848 


(tf  lit'c.  At  nhout  the  age  of  puljerty  the  Indian  boy  bethought 
liiiiiHcIf  of  taking  the  necessary  steps  for  the  preparation  of  this 
iiiVKtcrious  amulet  or  charm.  He  retired  to  some  solitary 
spot,  where  he  spent  several  days,  lying  upon  the  ground, 
tiiking  nothing  to  cat,  and  employing  liimself  constantly  in 
praying  to  the  Groat  Spirit.  Becoming  exhausted,  he  would 
lull  asleep,  and  of  course  dream  very  important  and  significant 
droiinis.  He  would  then  return  home,  and  after  gaining  suffi- 
cient; strength,  start  out  in  pursuit  of  the  bird  or  animal  which 
appeared  most  conspicuous  in  his  dreams,  not  resting  until  he 
had  obtained  a  specimen.  This  done,  he  would  return  and 
dress  the  skin,  stuff  it  with  moss,  or  some  other  light  sub- 
stance, after  which  he  would  ornament  it  with  every  description 
of  savage  finery.  This  medicine-bag  was  considered  invalu- 
able, and  was  carried  in  every  important  undertaking.  "  Tliese 
curious  appendages,"  says  Mr.  Catlin,  "to  the  persons  or  ward- 
robe of  an  Indian  are  sometimes  made  of  the  skin  of  an  otter, 
a  beaver,  a  muskrat,  a  weasel,  a  raccoon,  a  pole-cat,  a  snake,  a 
frog,  a  toad,  a  bat,  a  mouse,  a  mole,  a  hawk,  an  eagle,  a  mag- 
pie, or  a  sparrow;  sometimes  of  the  skin  of  an  animal  so  large 
as  a  wolf." 

The  Crows  ^#ere  inferior  in  numbers  to  the  Blackfeet,  but 
with  whom  they  were  for  many  years  at  war.  Physically  they 
are  a  fine  race,  being  much  taller  than  the  Indians  of  surround- 
ing tribes,  and  models  of  agility  and  strength.  In  their 
primitive  state  they  were  an  honest,  trustworthy  set  of  savages, 
but  in  later  days,  when  corrupted  by  the  evils  of  civilization, 
they  became  a  lawless,  thieving  horde.  As  will  be  seen  in  the 
course  of  our  narrative,  the  Crows  and  Blackfeet  were  objects 
of  terror  to  the  pioneer  settlers,  traders,  and  trappers  of  the 
Far  West.  Mr.  Brownell,  in  speaking  of  their  personal  appear- 
ance, says  that  one  distingiiishing  peculiarity  of  these  Indians 
was  the  extraordinary  length  of  their  hair,  which  was  cherished 
and  cultivated  as  an  ornament,  until  it  swept  the  ground  after 
theui.  This  profusion  was  to  be  seen  in  no  tribe  except  the 
Crows,  although  some  of  their  neighbors  endeavored  to  imitate 
it  by  glueing  an  additional  length  to  their  natural  hair.  The 
Crows  spoke  a  different  language  from  the  Blackfeet. 


844 


rilK    INDIAN    'IRIIIKH    WVHV   «>K    TIIK    MIWrHSIIM'i; 


"The  sinullt'r  Minituri  trilit'H,  iM'twiM'ii  tin;  mouth  of  thu  Y((l- 
lowHtoiiu  ntul  tlie  xittMif  tiio  MatKhui  viUu^uH,  and  the  u\ti>nHi\e 
imtion  of  thoCirort  VentroH,  inhuhitiii^  the  eastern  wlope  of  ♦'•e 
Itocky  Mouiitiiiiih,  Hpoke  the  Huino  hm^uago  with  tlieCrowH.  .,r 
one  very  nearly  allied  to  it.  The  Arapahoes,  numbering  no\w 
three  thousand,  and  dwellinj^  about  the  nourcet*  of  the  I'latte 
and  zVrkanttas  rivers,  belonged  to  the  race  of  the  Jilackfeef." 

The  ArapahocH  were  for  many  ycavn  at  war  with  the  Flat- 
head and  other  tribes  still  further  westward.  The  descent  of 
these  remote  bands  upon  the  plains  mi  pursuit  of  butt'alo,  wuii 
deemed  by  the  Blackfeet  a  signal  infringement  of  their  rights, 
and  iierco  battles  often  resulted  from  the  uontlicting  claims  uf 
tlie  rival  nations. 

Along  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  their  western  slopen,  and 
on  the  plains  drained  by  the  sources  of  the  Columbia,  were  the 
Nez-Perces,  or  Pierced-Nose  Indians,  the  Flatheads  and  the 
Pends  Orcilles,  or  Hanging  Ears.    These  stragling  tribes  were 
at  continual  war  with  nearly  all  the  western  tribes,  and  were, 
more  particularly  enemies  of  the  Blackfeet.     At  one  tinie  a 
number  of  Blackfeet  prisoners  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Flat- 
heads,  and  although  the  latter  were  usually  a  kind,  hospitable 
race,  they  thrust  upon  their  captives  upon  th»  occasion  every 
species  of  torture  with  a  view   to  overcome   the  far-famed 
courage  and  fortitude  of  the  ]31ackfeet.    But  it  was  all  in  viiiti. 
One  exulted  over  his  tormentors,  vaunting  his  own  deeds  in 
the  following  language:    "My  heart  is  strong. — You  do  not 
hurt  me.     You  can't  hurt  me.     You  are  fools.     You  do  not 
know  how  to  torture.     Try  it  again.     I  don't  feel  any  pain 
yet.     We  torture  your  relations  a  great  deal  better,  because  we 
make  them  cry  out  loud,  like  little  children.     You  are  not 
brave;  you  have  small  hearts,  and   you  are  always  afraid  to 
tight."     Then  speaking  to  one  of  his  captors,  he  said:  "It  was 
by  my  arrow  you  lost  your  eye;"    upon  which  the  Flathead 
darted  at  him,  and  with  a  knife,  in  a  moment  scooped  out  one 
of  his  eyes;  at  the  same  time  cutting  the  bridge  of  his  nose 
nearly  in  two.     Tiiis  did  not  stop  him;  with  the  remaining 
eye  he  looked  sternly  at  another,  and  said,  "I  killed  your 
brother,  and  I  scalped  your  old  fool  of  a  father."    The  warrior 


OR,   TIIK   ROKDKK    \VAK«  OK   TWO   rKNTfUIKH. 


845 


■  tlu!  Vol- 
jw!  ot"  *''e 

Ul'ONVH.  .(F 

ring  HojiR' 
tho  I'liitto 

Bktt'Ct." 

tho  riat- 

llCBCt'llt  of 
lltt'lllo,  WIW 

leir  rights, 
chiiiuH  of 

slopcH,  and 
ft,  were  the 
ds  and  tlie 
tribes  were 
,,  and  were, 
one  time  a 
)f  the  Flat- 
,  hospitahle 
iEBion  every 
far-tamed 
all  in  vain. 
n  deeds  in 
ou  do  not 
IYou  do  not 
;!   any  pain 
because  we 
fou  are  not 
\'&  afraid  to 
id:  *'It  was 
Ihe  Flathead 
iped  out  one 
of  his  nose 
remaining 
killed  your 
The  warrior 


to  whom  thiH   waH   luldrcsw*!    iiibtuntly  Mpriing  ut  him   and 
gevi'H'd  tho  scalp  from  his  head.* 

Some  very  Interefttliig  tniitu  of  the  chariu  tor  of  the  Crow» 
tire  exhibited  In  an  adventure  of  a  noted  trapper — Mr.  Robert 
Ilrowtiell,  ftH  given  In  Mr.  Irving's  book.  This  traveler  was  at 
une  time  hoHpitahly  entertained  by  tho  celebrated  ('row  chief, 
Arapooirth,  in  whose  care  ho  had  placed  a  largo  and  vulnablo 
package  of  furs.  The  greater  i)art  of  his  goods  had  been  buried 
in  the  grouml  for  greater  wifety.  These,  however,  were  all 
8t(»len,  Ihe  number  of  beaver  skins  included  being  one  hundred 
mid  tifty.  Upon  hearing  this,  Arapooish  immediately  assembled 
nil  the  men  of  the  village,  and  after  making  a  speech,  in  which 
lie  vehemently  declaimed  against  their  bad  faith  towards  the 
stranger,  and  declared  that  he  would  neither  touch  food  nor 
drink  until  tho  skins  should  all  be  returned.  The  Indians  at 
once  acknowledged  their  guilt  and  returned  the  goods. 

In  a  former  chapter  1  have  mentioned  tho  strength  of 
maternal  affection  among  the  Sioux.  We  now  have  numerous 
anecdotes  exemplifying  the  endnring  and  powerful  attachment 
between  the  sexes  among  the  Far  West  tribes;  but  this  was  not 
oidy  among  the  Indians  alone,  but  when  they  had  intermarried 
with  whites.  0»e  of  these  instances  is  as  follows:  "Among 
the  free  trappers  in  the  llocky  Mountain  band  was  a  spirited 
young  Mex)''^n,  named  Loretto,  who,  in  the  course  of  his  wan- 
derings, h..a  ransomed  a  beautiful  Blackfoot  girl  from  a  band 
of  Crows,  by  whom  she  had  been  captured.  He  made  her  his 
wife,  after  the  Indian  style,  and  she  had  followed  his  fortunes 
ever  since  with  the  most  devoted  affection."  In  Mr.  Brownell's 
work  we  find  the  same  incident  referred  to  in  these  words: 
"The  company  one  day  fell  in  with  a  numerous  party  of  Black- 
feet  warriors,  and  the  preliminary  steps  were  taken  for  a  parley, 
and  for  smoking  the  calumet,  in  token  of  peace.  At  this 
moment,  Loretto's  Indian  wife  perceived  her  own  brother 
among  the  band.  Leaving  her  infant  with  Lbretto,  she  rushed 
forward  and  threw  l^erself  upon  her  brother's  neck,  who  clasped 
Ills  long-lost  sister  to  his  heart  with  a  warmth  of  affection  but 
little  compatible  with  the  reputed  stoicism  of  the  savage.     ^' 

♦  Brownell's  Indian  Races. 


346 


TIIK    INDIAN    TMIHI'J*    W  KHT    nf  TIIK    MIHHIWII'I'i: 


♦'  Mt'iinwhih',  Hridjfer,  ono  of  tlic  triipper  lotuiurM,  approiwliiiiju 
thu  Hluckfcut,  tVotti  the  iinprudtMit  uxtrcrtH  of  cuution,  oookcd  h\n 
riHt>  jiiHt  M  \\ecii\uv  up  with  thrin.  Thu  ItMHan  chief,  who  wm 
in  tlie  net  of  proffering  u  friendly  Hiihitiition,  heard  the  chCk 
of  the  lock,  and  all  \m  native  fury  and  HUHpieion  were  itiHtiiittlv 
arouried.  Ilo  Bprang  \\]Km  Hridger,  forced  the  muz/Je  of  tho 
ririe  into  the  j^round,  where  it  wan  dinehar^ed,  knocked  liitii 
down,  Hcizcd  his  horse,  and  rode  oft'.  A  j^eiieral,  hut  dirtordeii^' 
tight  ensued,  during  which  Lorutto*M  wife  was  hurried  uway  by 
her  relatioiiM. 

'  "The  nohle  young  Mexican  Haw  lier  in  their  power,  vainly 
entreating  perinisHion  to  return,  and,  regnrdleBs  of  the  dim>(or 
incurred,  at  onco  hastened  to  her  side,  and  rcHtored  the  child 
to  its  mother.  The  Jiluckfect  hravcH  adinire<l  his  holdncHH, an] 
rcBpected  the  contidcnce  which  he  had  reposed  in  them  hy 
thus  venturing  in  their  midst,  hut  they  were  deaf  to  all  the 
prayers  of  himself  and  his  wife  that  they  might  reinnin 
together.  He  was  dismissed  unharmed,  hut  tlie  woman  and 
cliild  were  detained. 

"  Not  many  months  afterwards  the  faithful  T^oretto  procured 
his  discharge  from  the  company  in  whose  service  he  was 
eidisted,  and  followed  his  wife  to  her  own  country.  A  hnjjpy 
reunion  took  place,  and  the  loving  pair  took  up  their  residence 
at  the  trading-house  among  the  Ulackfeet,  where  the  husband 
served  as  interpreter  between  the  Indians  and  white  traders." 


V 


(MIAPTER    XLIV. 


TiiK  Indi.xk  Tuihkm  ok  tiik  Fah  Wkht  — Tiik  PtKiirKii-NonKn  — Till 
WAi.i,AWAr.i.AH— TuK  Fr.AT-IiKADH— I'Kcui.iAitiTiEa  i)r  TiiiH  Tkiuic — 

TllKIK  (.'AN(>K»,  KTC. 

SriLL  west  of  the  Hlucktuot  country  nnd  west  of  the  Koeky 
MdiintaiiiB,  lived  tho  l'iereotl-NoH»j  Iruiiunn,  and  t»ir  doTii  the 
Koowkooske  river  dwelt  the  I'lat-Heads,  while  upon  tho  main 
soutiiern  brunch,  the  Lewis  Fork  of  tho  ('ohunbia  or  Snake 
river,  dwelt  tho  Shoahonees  or  8iuiko  IndianH. 

The  Piorced-No8o  Indians  were  a  quiet,  inoftensive  ])eople, 
althouf^h  when  provoked  to  anger  they  were  by  ru)  means  want- 
injj;  in  courage  or  ability.  They  were  exceeflingly  superstitious 
and  consequently  ])erceptible  to  religious  impressions.  Their 
patient  reliance  upon  tho  Great  Spirit,  in  times  of  want  and 
danger,  would  shame  our  civilized  devotion. 

In  a  time  of  great  ^vant  a  traveler  named  Cnpt.  Bonneville 
happened  among  them,  and  found  them  subsisting  upnn  wild 
rose  buds,  roots  and  other  innutritious  vegetable  matters.  At 
this  early  day  their  weapon  was  the  spear.  "With  this  they  set 
out  on  a  certain  day,  on  horseback,  to  obtain  game.  The  whites 
regarded  the  expedition  as  hopeless.  Tliey  galloped  away,  how- 
ever, in  high  confidence.  The  undertaking  being  successful, 
the  poor  Indians  freely  shared  the  meats  they  had  taken  with 
the  strangers.  Capt.  Bonneville,  in  afterwards  speaking  of 
these  savages,  says:  "Simply  to  call  these  people  religious, 
would  convey  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  deep  liue  of  piety  and 
devotion  which  pervades  their  whole  conduct,  ^fheir  honesty 
is  immaculate,  and  their  purity  of  purpose  and  their  observ- 
ance of  the  rites  of  their  religion,  are  most  uniform  and 
remarkable.  They  are  certainly  more  like  a  nation  of  saints 
than  a  horde  of  savages." 

(347) 


»4R 


TIIR   INHIAN  TKIlim   wrUT   Of  T1»r   MlMUMttlTi: 


TIh'  f'ii«r('»'»|  Noho  IriilititiM  wrro  diviilnl  into  two  trllkM,  tli« 
U(>p<>r  uml  tlio  lower,  tlip  tIt'Ht  of  tlirKi<  in  tliut  to  which  alhiMJDti 
hiwi  hcrctotoro  h(<tMi  imuh)  in  (*onni'«*tion  with  tho  Ithu'kl'i'ct. 
Tho  liwIiuMM  of  tliif  lowor  triho  Hiil)HiHt(><|  ii|)oii  MmIi,  uikI  upnii 
rhrr,  t'll<  iitid  othop  ^iiiiip  of  thi'ir  own  coinitrv.  Mttwuvcr, 
thi'v  (lii!itrtH|  in  nothing  iin|iortunt  from  their  hri>tlin<n. 

Hnt  fiirthur  to  tiiu  woMtwunI,  upon  thr  hunkx  of  tho  (lohiin- 
hiii,  wo  coino  to  tho  WiilhiwiilhiH,  a  trihn  not  nnliki!  th«(  I'icrcnl. 
NoRus  ill  ^onorul  (•iiuriictt.'rlHtit'H.  Tlicy  were,  for  hiiviijj;oh, 
exceed inifiy  clean  and  dii'ont.  They  hud  ph'iity  of  liorHcs,  iiihI 
livod  chiefly  hy  hni\tin^;  Uut  like  their  neii^hhora,  whom  I 
have  junt  iiieiitioned,  tlmy  were  conn  intly  ut  war.  The  SIidh. 
hoiiceH  were  their  mortal  enemies.  The  caiiBO  for  their  hontility 
wa8  that  which  produced  nearly  all  wars  between  the  Indiuittt— 
disputed  territory. 

Hut  let  iiB  notice  riome  of  tho  strange  peculiarities  of  tho 
Flut-IIcads,  who  live<l  along  the  banks  of  the  lower  (yoluiiihia. 
The  horrible  deformity  of  tho  skull,  which  constitutes  their 
chief  [)eculiarity,  is  produced  by  pressure  upon  the  forehtwl 
of  tlie  infant  while  tho  bono  is  soft  and  pliable.  The  infiintig 
stretched  upon  its  back,  as  already  described  in  our  account  of 
the  Sioux,  a  bit  of  bark  is  then  so  secured  about  tho  head  by 
strings  that  it  can  be  tiglitened  at  pleasure,  creating  a  Kteiidy 
pressure  until  tho  head  is  so  flattened  that  "a  stniight  line  can 
be  drawn  from  the  tip  of  tho  nose  to  the  unnatural  apex."  Tiie 
operation  occupies  nearly  a  year. 

It  is  said,  however,  that  this  extensive  displacement  of  the 
brain  does  not  effect  any  noticeable  change  in  the  faculties  of 
the  mind.  "  It  is  an  nnaccountablo  custom  and  is  persisted  in 
as  being  an  improvement  upon  nature." 

Mr.  Hrownell  informs  us  that,  exclusive  of  the  head,  there 
is  little  particularly  noticeable  about  tlie  personal  appeanuice 
of  the  Indians  of  the  lower  Columbia.  The  description  given 
of  them,  particularly  of  their  women,  is  by  no  means  attractive. 
It  would  seem,  from  one  of  Mr.  Catlin's  illustrations,  that  a 
singular  custom,  generally  considered  as  peculiar  to  the  Brazil- 
ian Botocudos,  is  occasionally  observable  among  them.     He 


OR,    rilK    IIOKDKH    WAWI   or   TWO   (IKNTCKtM. 


340 


^{vrH  n  itkt'tch  of  a  woinnti  wIiohi^  iiiiiUt  lip  Ih  pirrcctl,  iimi  tho 
tt|i«<rtiiri'  tilli'il  with  II  lur^i)  wimmIi'M  plii);  or  liiittoii. 

In  huiltliii^  cuiioi'H  titev  i>X('(*IU*<|  nciirly  all  otli<<r  mhvh^hi. 
TliuM  weni  ofti'ii  Hrty  t'ri't  htri^,  iitid  woiiM  curry  from  ciji^lit  to 
ton  tlii»unaii<l  poiiiiiU  wiMj^ht,  or  from  twority  to  thirty  p«'rnoni». 
Tln'v  WITH  cut  out  of  H  Hinj^h^  trunk  of  u  trt«n,  which  in  ^cn- 
j'niliy  whitt'  j-t-jhir,  tlioii^h  thi!  Mr  in  Hoin»'tiin«'H  \imh\,  Whuii 
tlit>y  cniharki'd  ono  Indian  Hat  in  tho  Mtcrn  and  HttH'rtuI  with  a 
paddlo;  tht)  othern  knmtlud  in  pairH  in  tho  botttun  of  the  canov, 
anil,  Hitting  on  thoir  huoU,  paddlud  ovur  tho  ^unwalu  next  to 
tlicni.  In  thin  way  thwy  rodo  with  pt'rftx't  wift'ty  thu  hi><h<'Ht 
wavcH,  and  venturwl  witho\it  tho  loHHt  eonct'rn  in  houh  where 
otiur  hoatH  and  Hcainen  could  not  have  jivt'd  an  iiiHtant.  They 
lut  (piictly  and  paddlud,  with  nu  other  niovemont,  except  when 
any  lar^e  wave  throwod  the  hout  on  hor  side,  and  to  tho  eye  of 
tiie  ttpectator  Rhu  seoined  luat ;  the  nuiii  to  windward  then 
gtiwlied  her  by  throwing  ]m  body  towardH  tho  upper  Hide,  and, 
sinking  his  pad<llo  deep  into  the  waves,  appeared  to  catch  the 
water  and  force  it  under  tho  boat. 

The  Flat-Heads  subsisted  chiefly  by  flsliing,  in  which  thoy 
were  unusually  expert.  Their  nets  wore  made  of  silk  grass, 
or  o\'  the  fibrous  bark  of  white  cedar,  as  were  also  tho  lines 
uged  fur  angling.  The  hooks  were  procurc<l  from  white  traders, 
but  in  earlier  times  were  manufactured  from  bones  by  the 
natives. 

Their  houses  were  exceedingly  large,  many  being  thirty  feet 
broad  by  one  hundred  long.  Their  huuschold  furniture  was 
rude  and  simple.     Such  were  the  Flat- Heads. 


CHAPTER    XLV. 


The  8H08HONEK8  — The  Root-Diookhs  —  Debcuiption  of  the  Snakk 
Indians — The    Utahs    and   Apaciiks  —  The    Nabajos   and  the 

MUQUBS. 

Wk  next  come  to  the  great  nation  of  the  Shoshonees,  whose 
various  tribes  were  scattered  over  the  boundless  wilderness  from 
Texas  to  the  Columbia.  "  Their  territory,"  says  Mr.  Brownell, 
"  was  bounded  on  the  north  and  west  by  that  of  their  herei- 
itary  enemies,  the  JBlackfeet  and  Crows,  the  tribes  allied  to  the 
great  Dacotah  or  Sioux  family,  and  the  Indians  removed  west- 
ward from  the  United  States. 

"  Those  who  dwelt  among  the  rugged  and  inhospitable  regions 
of  the  great  Rocky  Mountain  chain,  known  as  Shoshonees,  or 
Root-Diggers,  were  the  most  destitute  and  miserable  portion 
of  all  the  North  American  tribes.  They  had  no  horses,  and 
nothing  but  the  rudest  native  implements  for  securing  game. 
They  were  harmless,  and  exceedingly  timid  and  shy,  choosing 
for  their  dwellings  the  most  remote  and  unexplored  retreats  of 
the  mountains,  whither  they  fled  in  terror  at  the  approach  of 
strangers,  whether  whites  or  Indians."  "  These  forlorn  beings," 
says  Irving,  "  forming  a  mere  link  between  human  nature  ami 
the  brute,  have  been  looked  down  upon  with  pity  and  contempt 
by  the  Creole  trappers,  who  have  given  them  the  appellation 
of  '  les  dignea  de  pitie,^  or,  the  objects  of  pity."  They  appear 
more  worthy  to  be  called  the  wild  men  of  the  mountains." 

Although  living  in  a  climate  where  they  experienced  great 
severity  of  cold,  these  miserable  people  were  very  insufficiently 
protected  either  by  clothing  or  comfortable  huts.  Of  a  party 
leen  by  Bonneville  upon  the  plain  below  Powder  Kiver,  that 
traveler  remarks:  "They  live  without  any  further  protection 
from   the  inclemency  of  the  season,  than  a  sort  of  break- 

(860) 


OB,   THE   BOKDKR    WARS  OP  TWO   CKNTURIR8. 


weftther,  about  three  feet  high,  composed  of  sage  (or  wormwood,) 
uiid  erected  around  them  in  the  shape  of  a  lialf-moon."  Thia 
iimterial  also  furnishes  them  with  fuel  Many  were  seen  carry- 
ing about  with  them  a  slow  match,  made  of  twisted  bark. 
"Whenever  they  wished  to  warm  themselves,  they  would 
gather  together  a  little  wormwood,  apply  tlie  match  and  in  an 
instant  produce  a  cheering  blaze."  * 

They  subsisted  in  a  great  degree  upon  roots  and  wild  seeds. 
However,  they  were  ambitious  enough  to  catch  rabbits  and 
other  small  animals.  Those  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  streams 
lidded  to  their  supplies  by  tishing,  and  it  was  in  this  pursuit 
that  they  evinced  one  provident  trait — that  of  laying  by  a 
store  of  dried  iish  for  the  winter.  Yet,  for  the  most  part,  they 
were  miserably  provided  with  the  necessaries  t  ,  life.  Mr. 
Bonneville  informs  us  that  they  were  destitute  of  the  neces- 
sary covering  to  protect  them  from  the  weather,  and  seemed  to 
be  in  ignorance  of  any  other  propriety  or  advantage  in  the  use 
of  clothing.  One  old  dame,  he  says,  had  absolutely  nothing 
on  her  person  but  a  thread  around  her  neck,  from  which  was 
pendant  a  single  bead. 

Those  Shoshonees  who  were  distinct  from  the  Koot-Diggers, 
were  a  free,  bold  race  of  hunters.  Indeed,  in  this  respect,  they 
were  not  inferior  to  the  Sioux,  Blackfeet  or  Crows.  It  is  a 
very  difficult  matter  to  give  any  satisfactory  classification  of 
the  several  tribes  belonging  to  this  great  nation.  "  The  Sho- 
shonees or  Snakes,"  says  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  "  embrace  all  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  Great  South  Pass,  between  the  Mississippi  valley 
and  the  waters  of  the  Columbia,  by  which  the  land  or  caravan 
communication  with  Oregon  and  California  is  now,  or  is  des- 
tined liereafter,  to  be  maintained.  *  *  Under  the  name  of 
Yampatick-ara,  or  Root-Eaters,  and  Bonacks,  they  occupy,  with 
the  Utahs,  the  vast  elevated  basin  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake, 
extending  south  and  west  to  the  borders  of  New  Mexico  and 
California.  Information  recently  received  denotes  that  the 
language  is  spoken  by  bands  in  the  gold  mine  region  of  the 
Sacramento."  The  most  noted  branch  of  the  whole  family 
was  that  of  the  Camanches,  "  who  descended  eastwardly  into 


*  Browuell's  Indian  Races. 


352 


TMK    IMtfAN   TUrnna    WKH't  OF   TIIK   MISSISSHTi: 


the  Texan  jiluiiirt  at  unknown  jjeriods  of  their  lustory." 
Analogy  in  language  was  all  that  attested  the  former  unity  of 
this  nation  with  the  Shoshonees.  The  Cainanches  inhabited  a 
country  where  bisons  and  wild  horses  abounded,  and  their  geii- 
eral  habits  and  mode  of  life  were  consequently  very  similar  to 
those  of  the  Western  Sioux  and  other  races  of  the  prairies. 
As  bold  and  skillful  riders,  they  were  said  to  have  no  equals,  at 
least  in  North  America;  some  of  their  feats  of  horsemanship 
appeared  almost  supernatural  to  a  stranger.  One  of  the  most 
lingular  of  these  is  that  of  throwing  the  whole  body  upon  one 
sidt  of  the  horse,  so  as  to  be  entirely  shielded  from  the  missile 
of  ui  enemy,  with  the  exception  of  the  heel,  by  which  they 
Btill  maintained  their  hold,  and  were  enabled  to  regain  their 
seat  in  an  instant.*  The  Camaiiches,  when  walking  nbont, 
were  an  awkward  set  of  people,  probably  the  result  of  constai  t 
riding.  The  Camanches  are  essentially  a  warlike  race,  and  the 
whole  history  of  the  settlement  and  occupation  of  Texas  is 
replete  with  tales  of  their  courage  and  prowess. 

The  wigwams  of  the  Camanches  consisted  of  tents  of  buffalo 
skins,  and  were  transported  from  place  to  place  as  necessity  or 
convenience  demanded.  The  tribe  adjoining  these,  the  Pawnee 
Picts,  lived  iiear  the  extreme  head  waters  of  the  Ked  river,  on 
tlie  borders  of  tjie  Flocky  Mountains;  but  these  people  were 
entirely  distinct  from  the  Pawnees  of  the  Platte  river,  and 
were,  in  general  characteristics,  much  like  their  friends,  the 
CamaiK'hes.  They  were,  however,  an  agricultural  race,  and 
raised  large  quantities  of  maize,  beans,  pumpkins  and  other 
vegetables. 

The  IJtahs  and  the  Apaches  inhabited  tlie  wilds  of  New 
Mexico,  but  were  not  essentially  different  from  the  tribes 
already  menticjned.  In  the  same  country  dwelt  twc-  very  die- 
tingnishod  tribes,  the  Nabajos  and  Morjues.  In  speaking  of 
the  latter  tribes  in  1846,  Mr.  Charles  Bent  says  they  are  "an 
industrious,  intelligent  and  warlike  tribe  of  Indians,  who  cul- 
tivate the  soil,  and  raise  sufficient  grain  and  fruits  of  various 
kinds  for  their  own  consumption.  They  are  the  owners  of  lar{Te 
flocks  and  herds  of  cattle,  sheep,  horses,  mules  and  asses.    It  is 

*  Bruwaell'ii  Indian  Races. 


OR,   TlfK    nOKOKK    WAH8   OF    TWO   OKNTL'UIES. 


353 


[•  unity  of 
ihabitcil  a 
their  gen- 
siinilar  to 
e  prairies. 
)  equals,  at 
'semaiisbip 
f  the  most 
y  upon  one 
the  missile 
which  they 
regain  their 
Icing  about, 
of  constai.t 
ace,  and  the 
of  Texas  is 


estiniuted  that  the  tribe  possesses  thirty  tliousand  head  of 
li(iri)ctl  cattle,  live  hundred  thousand  liead  of  slieep,  and  ten 
thousand  head  ot  liorses,  mules  and  asses.  *  *  They  man- 
ufacture excellent  coarse  blankets,  and  coarse  woolen  goods  for 
wearing  apparel.  ^  ^  *  They  have  in  their  possession  many 
nu'ii,  women  and  children,  taken  from  the  settlements  of  this 
territory,  whom  they  hold  and  treat  as  slaves.  *  *  The 
Moques  are  neiglibors  of  the  Nabajos,  and  live  in  permanent 
villages,  cultivate  grain  and  fruits,  and  raise  all  the  varieties 
of  stock." 

The  Nabajos  numbered  from  seven  to  twelve  thousand  souls, 
the  Moques  between  two  and  three  thousand.  The  two  tribes 
were  for  many  years  at  war  with  each  other,  which,  more  than 
any  other  agency  reduced  their  numbers.  It  is  said  of  these 
tribes  that  the  men  were  of  the  common  stature,  with  light, 
flaxen  hair,  light  blue  eyes,  and  that  their  skin  was  of  the  most 
delicate  whiteness. 

It  should  be  stated,  in  concluding  this  chapter,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  give  any  satisfactory  classification  of  the  Indian 
tribes  of  the  Far  West.  I  liavo  already  mentioned  all  the 
great  nations  that  inhabited  that  extensive  region,  and  attempted 
to  present  some  of  the  more  prominent  tribal  divisions,  but  as 
we  proceed  to  the  narrative  of  the  wars  between  them  and  the 
whites,  the  reader  will  meet  with  many  new  names,  and  will 
no  doubt  wonder  to  what  tribe  they  belong,  or  why  they  were 
not  mentioned  in  this  brief  review  of  the  Western  Indians. 
As  this  occurs,  I  shall  remember  to  mention  to  whicli  of  the 
nations  these  new  names  belong. 
d8 


:*.'- 


OHAPTEK    XLVl. 


CoiX)NEL  Fkemont  and  Kit  Cakson  — Kit  Goks  as  Guidk  witu  Fue. 
MONT'8  Expedition  —  The  Bukfafo  Hunt  —  ADVKNTUiiKa  in  a 
Puairib  DoG-ViUiAQE  — Ckosbino  tue    South    Fokk— Immknse 

BUFPALO   HeKDB. 

Tjik  first  train  of  adventure  and  border  warfare  of  the  Far 
West,  which  I  have  selected  as  proper  to  constitute  tlie  ope  i- 
ing  chapters  of  the  second  part  of  this  vohime,  is  that  which 
burronnds  the  remarkable  lives  of  Col.  Fremont  and  Christo- 
pher (Kit)  Carson.  In  following  the  current  of  these  adven- 
turous lives  I  shall  be  obliged  to  pass  over,  fcr  the  present, 
many  important  events,  but  in  the  course  of  the  narrative  we 
eliall  return  to  bring  these  forward. 

The  reader  will  require  no  introduction  to  these  men.  Tlie 
name  of  the  latter  is  already  familiar  throughout  America, 
while  that  of  the  former,  who  has  rendered  his  country  valua- 
ble services,  is  not  less  treasured  by  the  American  people. 

Kit  Carson  had  spent  sixteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  wilds 
of  the  West,  among  the  fiercest  Indian  tribes,  as  hunter, 
trapper,  guide,  or  scout,  or  each  in  turn,  and  had  returned  to 
feast  his  eyes  once  more  upon  the  scenes  of  civilization.  This 
was  in  1842.  He  visited  his  relatives  in  the  frontier  settle- 
ments of  Missouri,  where  he  found  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood 
days  vastly  changed.  On  all  sides  the  famous  mountaineer 
was  greeted  with  new  faces.  The  only  relic  of  his  childhood 
was  the  old  log-cabin  where  his  father  and  mother  had  resided, 
and  its  rude  walls  were  already  crumbling  into  decay.  The 
family  had  been  scattered  by  death  and  ill-fortune,  and  the 
brave  hunter  felt  that  he  had  no  longer  any  endearments 
among  civilized  people.  Having  satisfied  Lis  cnriosity,  he 
turned  his  face  once  more  towards  his  mountain  home.    He 

(354) 


OK,    THE    BORDER    WARS   OF   TWO   CENTURIES. 


865 


took  paesage  tipon  a  steamboat  boim<l  up  the  Missouri.  On 
tliis  boat  he  toll  in  with  Col.  J.  C.  Fremont,  who  had  left 
AViiniiington  in  May,  agreeably  to  the  order  of  Col.  J.  J.  Abert, 
chief  of  the  corps  of  topographical  engineers,  to  explore  the 
country  between  the  frontiers  of  Missouri  and  the  South  Pass 
in  the  Rocky  Mountains.  While  on  the  steamer  Kit  Carson 
was  engaged  as  guide  to  Col.  Fremont's  company.  The  party 
consisted  of  about  twenty-one  Creole  and  Canadian  voyageurs} 
Charles  Preuss,  Fremont's  assistant;  L.  Maxwell,  of  Kaskas- 
kia,  as  hunter,  and,  as  I  have  already  observed.  Kit  Carson,  aa 
guide.  In  addition  to  these,  Fremont  was  accompanied  by 
Henry  Brant  and  Randolph  Benton,  two  respectable  young 
men  who  attached  themselves  to  the  expedition  for  the  de- 
velopment of  mind  and  body. 

Upon  their  arrival  in  Kansas,  preparations  were  made  for  a 
ioiifif  and  dangerous  journey,  which  was  commenced  on  the 
tenth  of  June,  1842.  They  pursued  the  trail  of  a  party  of 
emigrants  bound  for  the  Columbia  river.  This  train  was  only 
about  three  weeks  in  their  advance.  The  latter  consisted  of 
men,  women  and  children.  There  were  sixty-four  men  and 
sixteen  or  seventeen  families.  They  had  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  cattle.  They  were  transporting  their  household  furni- 
ture in  large,  heavy  wagons.  There  had  been  much  sickness 
among  them,  and  they  had  lost  several  children.  One  of  the 
party,  who  had  lost  his  child,  and  whose  wife  was  very  ill,  had 
left  them  about  c  ne  hundred  miles  hence  on  the  prairies,  and 
as  a  hunter,  w):0  had  accompanied  them,  visited  Fremont's 
camp  on  the  twenty- seventh  of  June,  As  this  man  was  return- 
ing to  the  States,  Fremont  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity 
of  writing  letters  to  his  friends. 

The  order  observed  in  the  march  of  Fremont's  party  was 
about  the  same  as  that  adopted  by  expeditions  to  the  great 
West  in  early  times:  The  animals  were  turned  out  to  graze  at 
daybreak  every  morning;  six  o'clock  was  the  hour  for  break- 
fast, and  as  soon  as  it  was  over  the  march  was  resumed.  At 
noon  the  party  generally  came  to  a  halt  for  about  two  hours. 
At  sunset  the  order  was  given  to  encamp.  The  tents  were 
erected,  the  horses  turrod  out  to  graze,  and  supper  prepared. 


-~> 


850 


ADVKNTUKKH  OK    FUKMONT    AM)    KIT    UAUSON*. 


When  tlurknoss  cloned  in  tlio  liorsert  were  picketed  iind  a 
inuunted  guard  Htatiuned  around  the  cartH,  which  were  gen- 
erally Hot  up  for  a  det'euHe  in  carte  of  an  attack. 

On  the  twenty -third  of  June  the  party  had  u  B})ecinien  of 
falHealarniH  to  which  all  Huch  expeditiouH  in  therto  wild  re^iuiis 
were  Bubject.  As  they  ])roceeded  along  tlio  valley,  ohjectrt  wfio 
seen  on  the  oj)po8ite  liillrt,  which  diBa])peared  before  a  gliifis 
could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them.  A  man  who  had  been  a 
short  distance  in  front  came  spurring  back  in  grout  haste, 
shouting,  "  Indians!  Indians!  "  He  Imd  been  near  enough  to 
count  them,  according  to  his  report,  and  liad  made  out  just 
twenty-seven.  Fremont  at  once  halted  ;  the  arms  were  ex- 
amined and  put  in  order,  and  the  usual  preparations  made.  At 
this  juncture  tlie  brave  Kit  Carson  mounted  one  of  the  bent 
horses,  crossed  the  river  and  galloped  oft'  over  the  prairie  i'o: 
the  purpose  of  gaining  some  intelligence  respecting  the  enemy. 
Of  Kit's  appearance  in  this  brave  adventure  wc  have  Colonel 
Fremont's  own  woids:  "Mounted  on  a  tine  liorse,  without  a 
saddle,  and  scouring  bareheaded  over  the  prairies.  Kit  was  one 
of  tlie  linest  pictures  of  a  horseman  I  have  ever  seen.  A  short 
time  enabled  him  to  discover  that  the  Indian  war  party  of 
twenty-seven  consisted  of  six  elks,  wlio  had  been  gazing 
curiously  at  our  caravan  as  it  passed  by,  and  were  now  scam- 
pering off^  at  full  speed.  This  was  our  first  alarm,  and  its 
excitement  broke  agreeably  on  the  monotony  of  the  day." 

Proceeding  along  in  this  way  the  party  was  soon  in  the  land 
of  tlie  buflalo,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  frotn  Fremont's 
own  pen: 

"  A  few  miles  brought  us  into  the  midst  of  the  buffalo,  swarm- 
ing in  immense  numbers  over  the  plains,  where  they  had  left 
scarcely  a  blade  of  grass  standing.  Mr.  Prenss,  wlio  was 
sketching  at  a  little  distance  in  the  rear,  had  at  first  noted  them 
as  large  groves  of  timber.  In  the  sight  of  such  a  mass;  of  life, 
the  traveler  feels  a  strange  emotion  o;'  grandeur.  We  had 
heard  from  a  distance  a  dull  and  confused  murmuring,  and, 
when  we  came  in  view  of  their  dark  masses,  there  was  not  one 
among  us  who  did  not  feel  his  heart  beat  quicker.  It  was  the 
early  part  of  the  day,  wlien  the  herds  are  feeding;  and  every- 


OR,    TIIK    ItoUMKK    WAKH   OK   TWO   CKNTUKII-*. 


357 


jd  uixl  li 
vere  j;eii- 

ciiiien  of 
Id  regions 
ijectri  were 
re  a  glasH 
iiid  l)eon  ti 
•eat  hiiste, 
eiiougli  to 
c  out  jUHt 
1  were  ex- 
inade.   At 
jf  tlie  best 
prairie  to; 
the  enemy, 
ftve  Colonel 
3,  without  a 
Kit  was  one 
1.     A  short 
XT  party  of 
Ben    gazing 
now  scani- 
iii,  and  its 
e  day." 
n  the  land 
1  Fremont's 

falo,  swarm- 
ley  had  left 
s^  who  was 
noted  them 
niaf^t'  of  life, 
We  had 
iiuriug,  and, 
was  not  one 
It  was  the 
and  every- 


where tlu'y  were  in  motion.     Hero  nml  there  tt  luigo  old  bull 

wM  rolling  iit  the  graHrt,  and  clouda  of  duHt  roHO  in  the  nlr  from 

variourt  partH  of  the  handu,  eueh  the  Hcene  of  soino  ohstiiuitu 

tight.     Indianri  and  hutfaloeiii  nniko  the  poetry  and  life  of  thu 

prairie,  and  our  eamp  was  full  of  their  exhilaration.     In  place 

of  the  (luiet  moriotony  of  the   nuireh,   relieved  oidy  by  the 

cracking  of  the  whip,  and  an  "  ainiwe  done!  enfant  de  gareeP^ 

shoutrt  arul  songs  rebounded  from  every  part  of  the  line,  and 

our  evening  eamp  was  always  the  comtnencement  ( f  a  feast, 

which  terminated  only  with  our  departure  on  the  following 

morning.     At  any  time  of  the  night  might  be  seen  pieces  of 

the  most  delicate  and  choicest  meat,  roasting  en  appolas,  on 

sticks  around  the  tire,  and  the  guard  were  never  without  com- 

[)any.      With   pleasant  weather  and  no  enemy   to  fear,  an 

abundance  of  the  most  excellent  meat,  and  no  scarcity  of  bread 

or  tobacco,  they  were  enjoying  the  oasis  of  a  voyageur's  life. 

Three  cows  were  killed  to-day.     Kit  Carson  had  shot  one,  and 

was  continuing  the  chase  in  the  midst  of  another  herd,  when 

his  horse  fell  headlong,  but  sprang  up  and  joined  the  flying 

band.    Though  considerably  hurt,  he  had  the  good  fortune  to 

break  no  bones;  and  Maxwell,  who  was  mounted  on  a  fleet 

luniter,  captured  the  runaway  after  a  hard  chase.     He  was  on 

the  point  of  shooting  him,  to  avoid  the  loss  of  his  bridle  (a 

handsomely  mounted  Spanish  one,)  when  he  found  that  his 

horse  was  able  to  come  up  with  him.     Animals  are  frequently 

lost  In  this  way;  and  it  is  necessary  to  keep  close  watch  over 

them,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  buffaloes,  in  the  midst  of  which 

they  scour  off  to  the  plains,  and  are  rarely  retaken.     One  of 

our  ninles  took  a  sudden  freak  into  his  liead,  and  joined  a 

neighboring  band  to-day.     As  we  were  not  in  a  condition  to 

lose  horses,  I  sent  several  men  in  pursuit,  and  remained  in 

eamp,  in  the  hope  of  recovering  him ;  but  lost  the  afternoon  to 

no  purpose,  as  we  did  not  see  him  again.     As  we  were  riding 

•inietiy  along  the  bank,  a  grand  herd  of  buffaloes,  some  seven 

|»i'  eight  hundred  in  number,  came  crowding  up  from  the  river, 

where  they  had  been  to  drink,  and  commenced  crossing  the 

plain  slowly,  eating  as  they  went.    The  wind  was  favorable; 

the  coolness  of  the  morning  invited  to  exercise;  the  ground 


858 


ADVKNTlJUfM   t>V   VHVMaSt   ANO   KIT   OAWftoV! 


I 

{ 


was  »ij)|)ur<)MMy  ^ood,  uiul  the  dlHtiiTU't'  HcroHH  tlio  pruirif  i  two 
or  three  inilert),  gnve  tie  a  Hue  opportiiiiity  to  chur^u  thciii 
before  they  I'oiiltl  got  among  the  river  hilU.     It  wum  two  titu;  a 
proHpect  for  a  ehaHO  to  he  loMt;  ami,  halting  for  a  few  nioincntti, 
tlie  hunters  were  hroiight   up  and  Haddle«l,  and   Kit  (Iui'koi-, 
Maxwell  and   I,  started  together.     They  were  now  Moinewinit 
lcH8  than  half  a  mile  distant,  and  we  rode  easily  along  until 
within  ahout  three  hundre<l  yards,  when  a  sudden  agituti(»ii,  ii 
wavering  in  the  band,  and  a  galloping  to  and  fro  of  Home 
which  were  scattered  along  the  skirts,  gave  us  the  intinuiti(»ii 
that  we  were  iliseovered.     Wo  starttMl  together  ui,  a  hurd  giillap 
riding  steadily  abreast  of  each  other,  and  here  the  interest  of 
tlie  chase  became  so  engrossingly  intense,  that  we  were  sen- 
Bible  to  iu)thing  else.    We  were  now  eloping  upon  them  rapidly, 
and  tlie  front  of  the  nuiss  was  already  in  rapid  motion  for  the 
hills,  and  in  a  few  secoiuls  the  movement  had  communicated 
itself  to  the  whole  herd.     A  crowd  of  bulls,  as  usual,  br<>!iy:lit 
uj)  the  rear,  and  every  now  and  then  flonje  of  them  faced  al)oiit, 
and  then  dashed  on  after, the  band  a  short  distance,  and  turmd 
and  looked  again,  as  if  more  tlum  half  inclined  to  stand  and 
fight.     In  a  few  mon\ents,  however,  during  which  we  had  heoii 
quickening  our  pace,  the  rout  was  universal,  and  wo  were  going 
over  the  ground  like  a  hurricane.     When  at  about  thirty  yards, 
we  gave  the   usual   shout  (the  hunter's  piis  de  charge,)  and 
broke  into  the  herd.     We  entered  on  the  side,  the  mass  giving 
way  in  every  direction  in  their  heedless  course.     Many  of  the 
bulls,  less  active  and  less  fleet  than  the  cows,  paying  no  atten- 
tion to  the  ground,  and  occupied  solely  with  the  hunter,  were 
precipitated  to  the  earth  witli  great  force,  rolling  over  and  over 
witli  the  violence  of  the  shock,  and  hardly  distingui8lial)le  in 
the  dust.     We  separated  on  entering,  each  singling  out  his 
game.     My  horse  was  a  trained  hunter,  famous  in  the  West 
under  the  name  of  Proveau,  and,  with  his  eyes  flashing,  and 
tlje  foam  flying  from  his  mouth,  sprang  on  after  the  cow  likea 
tiger.     In  a  few  moments  he  brought  me  alongside  of  licr, 
and,  rising  in  the  stirrups,  I  flred  at  the  distance  of  a  yard,  tlie 
ball  entering  at  the  termination  of  the  lung  liair,  and  })assing 
near  the  lieart.     She  fell  headlong  at  the  report  of  the  gun, 


OB,    TIIK    n«>UI)KK    WAIW    OF   TWO    OKNTI'lilRfl. 


860 


and,  clH'ckin^  my  horKc,  I  looktHl  Hrouml  tor  my  comiminoiii. 
At  a  littlu  <liHtiiii(!(>,  Kit  wm  oii  the  ^roiiiMl,  ungu^cd  in  tying 
liiii  itortie  to  t\\v,  liortiH  of  a  cow  which  ho  wuh  prcpiirin^  to  cut 
np.     Amon^  the  wiiittortMl   hiitulH,  ut  Homu  (liHtiiiicc  lielow,  I 
caught  a  ^iiinpflo  ut'  Maxwell;  and  wliilc  I  waH  looking,  a  li^ht 
wriatii  of  white  Htnoke  curled  away  from  his  ^un,  from  which 
I  \vn«  too  far  to  hear  the  report.     Nearer,  and  hetween  me  and 
the  hills,  towards  which  they  were  directing  their  course,  was 
the  hody  of  the  hcnl,  t\nd,  ^ivin^  my  horse  the  rein,  we  dashed 
after  them.     A  thick  cloud   of  dust    hun^   U})on    their  rear, 
which  tilled  my  mouth  and  eyes,  aticJ  nearly  smothered  mo. 
ill  the  midst  of  this  I  could  see   nothin<:;,  and   the  Imtliiluea 
were    not   distinj^uishuhle    until    within    thirty    feet.      They 
crowded  together  more  densely  still  as  1  came  upon  them,  and 
rushed  alon<i^  in  such  a  compact  hody,  that  1  could  not  obtaia 
ail  entrance — the  horse  almost  leaping  upon  them.     In  a  few 
luoiiitMits  the  mass  divided  to  the  right  and  left,  the  horns 
clattering  with  a  noise  heard  above  everything  else,  and  my 
hoii^e  darted  into  the  opening.     Five  or  six  bulls  charged  on  us 
as  we  dashed  along  the  line,  but  were  left  far  behind;  and,  sing- 
ling out  a  cow,  I  gave  her  my  lire,  but  struck  too  high.     She 
gave  a  tremendous  leap,  and  scoured  on  swifter  than  before.    I 
reined  up  ray  horse,  and  the  band  swept  on  like  a  torrent,  and 
left  the  place  quiet  and  clear.     Our  chase  had  led  us  into  dan- 
fjeruns  ground.     A  prairie-dog  village,  so  thickly  settled  that 
thoic  were  three  or  four  holes  in   every  twenty  yards  square, 
occupied  the  whole  bottom  for  nearly  two  miles  in  length. 
hooking  around,  I  saw  only  one  of  the  hunters,  nearly  out  of 
sight,  and  the  long  dark  line  of  our  caravan  crawling  along, 
throe  or  four  miles  distant.     After  a  march  of  twenty-four 
miles,  we  encamped  at  nightfall,  one  mile  and  a  half  above  the 
lower  end  of  Brady's  Island." 

In  following  these  adventurers  across  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
the  general  reader  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  be  interested  in  notic- 
ing some  of  the  princi])al  features  of  the  wild  country  through 
which  they  were  traveling.  On  the  second  of  July,  the  party 
puiised  near  the  spot  where  the  Oregon  emigrants  had  encamped 
only  a  few  days  before.     A  variety  of  household  articles  were 


^ 


»((0 


VltVKNTUHM   «>K    KHKM*»NT    ANM   KIT   I'AKWKN, 


M'HtterctI  nl><>ut,  iind  they  liiii)  prohiiMy  tiiHiitirdt'iiitl  tlicinrii'lvoit 
liuro  of  iiiuiiy  tliiti^H  not  iilHoliitrly  ii*  i'cr«Miiry.  On  tliu  hiiiiio 
iluy  Fi'tinioiit  left  tlio  iirttiul  roiul  in  tliu  torfiiooti,  uml  liuvin^ 
pUHlniil  Ht!v»'riil  iiu'ii  iiluMid  to  recoiiiioitiv,  iiiurulu><l  diruotly  tup 
thu  iiiotith  of  tliu  S4>uth  Fork.  On  tlicir  iirrivul  ut  tliiH  plmc, 
•uureli  wuM  inini(!<liutoly  niiidu  tor  thu  Imut  tor«liti^  plucu.  At 
tliirt  |H)int  tlu>  HtroHii)  Ih  divided  intu  clmnnclH.  Tliu  Hoiitlicrri 
in  tour  liiindriHl  mid  fifty  ft<c<t  wide,  Ix-in^  vi^liteon  or  twoiity 
inches  dtiep  in  tliti  nniln  cliuniiul.  With  tlu'  (>X('(>|>tion  nt'  a 
few  dry  burn,  tlio  IxmI  of  tlie  river  iH  ^eui'mliy  qiiickHuudH,  in 
wliicli  tlie  curttt  be^iin  to  Hink  rapidly  urdeM8  kept  conHtuiitly  In 
motion.  Tlie  nurtliern  cluiiiriel  of  tite  river,  two  thonHaiKJ  two 
hundred  and  tifty  feet  wide,  in  deeper,  havin>(  thrt^e  or  four  \\H 
of  water  in  the  varioiirt  Hinall  ciiannelH,  with  a  l)ed  of  coiurto 
gravel.  The  whole  widtli  of  the  Nehrawka,  itnniediately  Imlov/ 
the  junction,  wart,  in  1842,  five  thourtand  three  hundred  and 
tifty  feet,  with  aw  elevation  above  the  Ht)a  of  two  thuuHaiid 
seven  hundred  feet. 

Crort8ing  the  river  in  eafety,  Fremont  cnca)npc<I.  llorc,  aa 
tills  was  to  be  a  point  in  their  homeward  journey,  he  made  a 
cache*  of  a  barrel  of  pork.  On  the  foUowinjjf  day  they  |)r()- 
ceeded  about  twenty-ftve  miles,  and  encamped  at»\\  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  Speaking  of  thin  night,  Fremont  Hays:  "Om* 
tires  were  partially  made  of  the  f>o!n  de  vurhe,  the  dry  excre- 
ment of  the  butialoes,  whieli,  like  that  of  the  cu'iiel  in  the 
Arabian  deserts,  furnishes  to  the  traveler  a  very  good  8ul)sti- 
tute  for  wood,  burning  like  turf.  Wolves  in  great  nuinl)orrt 
surrounded  us  during  the  night,  crossing  and  rccrossing  frotu 
tlie  opposite  herds  to  our  camp,  and  howling  and  trotting  about 
in  the  river  until  morning." 

As  they  were  riding  along  on  the  afternoon  of  the  following 
day,  clouds  of  dust  in  the  ravines,  among  the  hills  to  the  rijjlit, 
suddenly  attracted  their  attention,  and,  in  a  few  momenta,  col- 
umn after  column  of  buffaloes  came  galloping  down  acnm 
their  course,  making  directly  to  the  river.  By  tlie  time  the 
leading  lierds  had  reached  the  water,  the  prairie  was  darkened 

*  Cache— A  torm  used  in  tlie  West  for  anything  tliat  is  liiddoii  in  tlie 
ground. — Ed.  -, 


OH,   TIIK    IIOKriKK    \V\HM   OK    t  VNO   fKNTIRIKM. 


with  tilt*  (li>riHn  tiiuMHCri.  Iiniiit'WiHfi'ly  Intlort)  tliiMii,  wIumi  tho 
liiTiIrt  llt'Ht  'Uiiiu  down  into  tliii  vulloy,  Mtrutrhcil  hii  iiiiWrokcii 
liiii',  till!  lu'iiil  of  wliicli  wan  loHt  luiioti^  till)  river  liilln  on  tlio 
rip|)oHiti>  h1«U),  Imt  Htili  tliev  poun^l  «lo\vri  tVoni  tliM  ritl^rn  oil 
Fn'iiioiit'8  rij^tit.  The  wi^ht  wiih  Ik'^oiuI  »li'Hcri|>tiou.  Ovur 
i>l(>v(>ii  thouHHuil  iMirtuloc'rt  were  in  view.  "  In  h  nhort  tttnt*," 
HiiyH  Col.  Fruniont,  "  they  Hiirroiiii«hHl  uh  on  uvory  ititle,  uxtt>n<l. 
in^  tor  Hcvurul  inihm  in  tlu»  rear,  und  t'orwurd  u.s  tUr  m  thu  cyo 
could  rtMU'h;  liMivirif^  around  iih  hm  wu  advanced,  an  npun  Hpaco 
of  only  two  or  thive  hundred  yanln.  TIiIh  movement  ot*  tlio 
hiitlaloert  indicated  to  U8  the  preHeiieo  of  Indian^  on  the  North 
Fork." 


hiddc'ii  in  the 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


L8    12.5 

ut  lU    12.2 

"*   ■'"    ""12.0 


nffli 


1.25  i  1.4 


1.6 


^ 


y: 


7 


Photographic 

Sdoices 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M580 

(716)872-4503 


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CHAPTER    XLVII. 


Di  VISION  OF  Fremont's  Party— Thrilling  Incidents  of  the  JomtNET 
TO  Fort  Laramie— Description  of  Fort  Laramie— Frightful 
Rumors  of  Indian  Hostiutt— Fremont  Determines  to  Con- 
tinue—Kit Carson  Resolves  to  Follow  Him  — Bravery  and 
Cowardice. 

When  the  party  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  road  creased 
the  North  Fork  they  were  divided,  going  in  two  different 
directions.  Fremont,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Prenss  and  four  men, 
Maxwell,  Bernier,  Ayot  and  Lajeunesse,  and  three  Cheyenne 
Indians  started  out  across  the  country  along  the  South  Branch 
of  the  river,  intending  to  ascend  the  river  some  two  hundred 
miles  to  St.  Train's  fort,  and  thence  to  reach  the  American 
company's  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Laramie.  The  remainder 
of  the  party,  which  was  left  under  the  command  of  Clement 
Lambert,  was  ordered  to  cross  the  North  Fork,  and  at  some 
convenient  place  to  make  a  cache  of  everything  not  absolutely 
necessary  to  the  further  progress  of  the  expedition.  From  tiiis 
point,  using  the  most  guarded  precaution  in  their  march 
through  the  country,  they  were  to  proceed  to  the  same  point. 
This  division  of  the  party  was  effected  to  enable  Fremont  to 
make  some  observations  on  the  South  Branch. 

Let  us  first  follow  Fremont's  own  party.  During  the  first 
day's  journey  nothing  of  interest  occurred.  About  sunset 
Maxwell  shot  a  buffalo,  and  the  little  party  encamped  where  a 
little  timber  afforded  them  the  means  of  making  a  lire.  Hav- 
ing placed  the  meat  before  the  fire  on  roasting  sticks,  they 
proceeded  to  unpack  their  bales  in  search  of  coffee  and  sugar, 
and  flour  for  bread.  With  the  exception  of  a  little  parched 
coffee  they  found  nothing,  the  cook  having  neglected  to  put  it 
up.    Tired  and  hungry,  with  only  tough  meat,  without  salt, 

(362) 


OB,   TIIK  UORDKK   \VAK8  OF  TWO  0EMTUKIE8. 


868 


and  a  little  bitter  coffee,  they 'sat  down  in  silence  to  their 
miserable  meal,  a  very  disconsolate  party.  The  previous  day's 
fea^t  was  still  fresh  in  their  memories,  and  this  was  their  first 
brush  with  niisfortuue.  Each  man  took  his  blanket  and  laid 
liimself  down  silently  to  sleep. 

On  the  following  day  Mr.  Preuss,  owing  to  the  disability  of 
his  horse,  returned  to  the  main  party.    Fremont  and  his  com- 
panions continued  their  journey  in  a  southwesterly  course  up 
the  valley  of  the  river.    On  the  eighth  of  July,  in  the  course 
of  the  forenoon,  they  came  suddenly  on  a  place  where  the 
ground  was  covered  with  horses'  tracks,  which  had  recently 
been  made,  and  indicated  the  immediate  presence  of  Indians. 
Tlie  buffalo,  too,  which  the  day  before  had  been  so  numerous, 
were  nowhere  in  sight — another  sure  indication  that  there 
were  people  near.     Riding  on,  they  discovered  the  carcass  of  a 
buffalo  recently  killed — perhaps  the  day  before.    They  scanned 
the  horizon  carefully  with  the  glass,  but  no  living  object  was 
to  be  seen.     For  the  next  mile  or  two  the  ground  was  dotted 
with  buffalo  carcasses,  which  showed  that  the  Indians  had 
made  a  surround  there,  and  were  in  considerable  force.    They 
went  on  quickly  and  cautiously,  keeping  the  river  bottom,  and 
carefully  avoiding  the  hills,  but  met  with  no  interruption,  and 
began  to  grow  careless  again.    They  had  already  lost  one  of 
their  horses,  and  here  Basil's  mule  showed  symptoms  of  giving 
out,  and  finally  refused  to  advance,  being  what  the  Canadians 
call  reat^.    He  therefore  dismounted  and  drove  her  along  before 
him,  but  this  was  a  very  slow  way  of  traveling.    They  had 
inadvertently  got  about  half  a  mile  in  advance,  but  the  Chey- 
ennes,  who  were  generally  a  mile  or  two  in  the  rear,  remained 
with  him.     There  were  some  dark-looking  objects  among  tlie 
hills,  about  two  miles  to  the  left,  here  low  and  undulating, 
which  they  had  seen  for  a  little  time,  and  supposed  to  be 
buffalo  coming  in  to  water;  but,  happening  to  look  behind. 
Maxwell    saw   the   Cheyennes   whipping  up   furiously,   and 
another  glance  at  the  dark  objects  showed  them  at  once  to  be 
Indians  coming  up  at  speed.     Had  they  been  well  mounted 
and  disencumbered  of  instruments,  they  might  have  set  them 
at  defiance;  but  as  it  was,  they  were  fairly  caught.     It  was  too 


864 


ADVKNTITKE8  OF   FKKMONT   AND    KIT  CARSON. 


late  to  rejoin  their  friends,  and  tliey  endeavored  to  gain  a  cjiimp 
of  timber  about  lialf  a  mile  aliead,  but  the  instrumentrt  und 
the  tired  state  of  their  horses  did  not  allow  them  to  go  faHtcr 
than  a  steady  canter,  and  the  Indians  were  gaining  on  tliuni 
fast.  At  first  they  did  not  appear  to  be  more  than  lifteen  or 
twenty  in  number,  but  group  after  group  darted  into  view  at 
the  top  of  the  hills,  until  all  the  little  eminences  seemed  in 
motion,  and,  in  a  few  minutes  from  the  time  tliey  were  first 
discovered,  two  or  three  hundred,  naked  to  the  breech-cloth, 
were  sweeping  across  the  prairie.  In  a  few  hundred  yards 
Fremont  discovered  that  the  timber  he  was  endeavoring  to 
make  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  before  he  could 
reach  the  bank  down  came  the  Indians  upon  them. 

Fremont  pulled  off  the  cover  from  his  gun  and  was  about  to 
fire  at  tha  foremost  rider,  when  Maxwell  recognized  the  Indian, 
and  called  out,  in  the  Indian  language,  "You're  a  fool  I  don't 
you  know  me?"  The  sound  of  his  own  language  seemed  to 
shock  the  savage,  and  swerving  his  horse  a  little,  he  passed  the 
whole  party  like  an  arrow.*  As  Fremont  rode  after  him,  he 
wheeled  and  gave  the  Colonel  his  hand,  striking  his  breast,  and 
exclaiming,  "  Arapaho!"  They  proved  to  be  a  village  of  that 
nation,  among  whom  Maxwell  had  resided  as  a  trader  a  year  or 
two  previously,  and  recognized  him  accordingly.  Fremont 
says:  "We  were  soon  in  the  midst  of  the  band,  answering,  as 
well  as  we  Could,  a  multitude  of  questions;  of  which  the  very 
first  was,  of  what  tribe  were  our  Indian  companions  who  were 
coming  in  the  rear.  They  seemed  disappointed  to  know  that 
they  were  Cheyennes,  for  they  had  fully  anticipated  a  grand 
dance  around  a  Pawnee  scalp  that  night." 

The  chief  pointed  out  his  village  at  a  grove  on  the  river,  six 
miles  ahead,  and  then  started  with  his  band  in  pursuit. of  a 
herd  of  bufialo  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Platte,  which,  as  he 
informed  the  whites,  he  intended  to  surround.  In  a  few 
moments  more  the  women  galloped  up,  astride  on  their  horses, 
and  half  naked.  They  followed  the  men,  to  assist  in  cutting 
up  and  carrying  off  the  meat. 

As  soon  as  the  Indians  had  crossed  the  river  they  separated 

*  Fremont's  Report. 


OK,   TilK   BOKDKK   WARS  OK   TWO  CKNTUKIl<i4. 


Srtft 


into  two  parties.  One  body  pro(!eeded  directly  across  tlie 
prnirie  toward  the  hills,  while  the  other  went  up  the  river,  and 
as  Boon  as  they  had  given  the  wind  to  the  herd,  the  chase  com- 
menced. The  buffalo  started  for  the  hills,  but  were  intercepted 
and  driven  back  toward  the  river,  broken  and  running  in 
every  direction.  Fremont's  party  now  halted  to  see  the  sport, 
bnt  the  clouds  of  dust  soon  covered  the  whole  scene,  prevent- 
ing them  from  liaving  any  but  an  occasional  view.  It  had, 
ftays  Fremont,  a  very  singular  appearance  at  a  distance;  espe- 
cially when  looking  with  a  glass.  The  Indians  were  too  far 
oft'  for  the  Americans  to  hear  the  report  of  the  guns  or  any 
sound;  and,  at  every  instant  througli  tlie  clouds  of  dust  which 
tlie  sun  made  luminous,  they  could  see  for  a  moment  two  or 
three  buffalo  dashing  along,  and  close  behind  them  an  Indian 
with  his  spear,  or  other  weapon,  and  instantly  again  they  dis- 
appeared. The  apparent  silence,  and  the  dimly  seen  figures 
flitting  by  with  such  rapidity,  gave  it  a  kind  of  dreamy  effect 
and  seemed  more  like  a  picture  than  a  scene  of  real  life.  It 
had  been  a  large  herd,  probably  three  or  four  hundred  in  num- 
bers, but  although  Fremont  watched  closely,  he  says,  "  I  did 
not  see  one  emerge  from  the  fatal  cloud  where  the  work  of 
destruction  was  going  on." 

After  remaining  at  this  place  about  an  hour,  Fremont 
resumed  his  journey  in  the  direction  of  the  Indian  village. 
Gradually,  as  they  rode  along,  Indian  after  Indian  came  drop- 
ping in  laden  with  meat,  and  by  the  time  they  had  approached 
within  view  of  the  lodges  the  backward  road  was  covered  with 
the  returning  horsemen.  This  was,  indeed,  a  pleasant  contrast 
with  the  desert  road  they  had  been  traveling.  Many  of  the 
Indians  had  joined  company  with  the  whites,  and  one  of  the 
diiefs  invited  the  party  to  his  lodge.  The  village  consisted  of 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  lodges,  of  which  twenty 
were  Cheyennes;  the  latter  located  a  little  way  from  the  Arapa- 
hoes.  Fremont's  experience  in  this  village  was  exceedingly 
pleasant.  The  Indians  treated  him  with  choice  pieces  of  meat 
And  asked  some  questions  con(;erning  the  object  of  his  expedi- 
tion, which  he  freely  answered. 
On  the  morning  of  the  ninth  of  July  they  caught  the  first 


86H 


ADVKNTURK8  OK   FREMONT   AND  KIT  CARBON. 


faint  glimpso  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  pursuing  their  cuurMe 
they  came  to  the  camp  of  some  four  or  five  whites,  who  hail 
accompanied  Captain  Wyeth  to  the  Cohunbia  river  and  were 
independent  trappers.  All  had  their  squaws  with  them,  and 
Fremont  says,  "  I  was  really  surprised  at  the  number  of  little 
fat  buffalo-fed  boys  that  were  tumbling  about  the  camp,  all 
apparently  of  the  same  age,  about  three  or  four  years  old. 
They  were  encamped  on  a  rich  bottom,  covered  with  a  profu- 
sion of  line  grass,  and  had  a  large  number  of  fine-looking 
horses  and  mules.  We  rested  with  them  a  few  minutes,  and  in 
about  two  miles  arrived  at  Chabonard's  camp,  on  an  island  in 
the  Platte." 

After  several  days  wearisome  journeying  Fremont's  party, 
on  the  fifteenth  of  July  came  within  view  of  Fort  Laramie. 
This  was  a  large  post,  having  the  air  of  military  construction. 
It  was  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Platte  on  a  rising 
ground,  some  twenty  feet  above  the  water;  and  its  lofty  walls, 
whitewashed  and  picketed,  with  the  large  bastions  at  the  angles, 
gave  it  quite  an  imposing  appearance  to  the  approaching  trav- 
elers. "A  cluster  of  lodges,"  says  Fremont,  "  which  the  lan- 
guage told  us  belonged  to  Sioux  Indians,  was  pitched  under 
the  walls,  and,  with  the  fine  background  of  the  Black  hills  and 
the  prominent  peak  of  Laramie  mountain,  strongly  drawn  in 
the  clear  light  of  the  western  sky,  where  the  sun  had  already 
set,  the  whole  formed  at  the  moment  a  strikingly  beautiful  pic- 
ture. From  the  company  at  St.  Louis  I  had  letters  for  Mr. 
Boudeau,  the  gentleman  in  charge  of  the  post,  by  whom  I  was 
received  with  great  hospitality  and  an  efficient  kindness,  which 
was  invaluable  to  me  during  my  stay  in  the  country.  I  found 
our  people  encamped  on  the  bank,  a  short  distance  above  the 
fort.  All  were  well;  and,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  bountiful  sup- 
per, which  coffee  and  bread  made  luxurious  to  us,  we  soon  for- 
got the  fatigues  of  the  last  ten  days." 

But  it  is  not  sufficient  that  we  find  this  party  whom  we  left 
several  weeks  ago  alive  and  well.  Let  us  return  and  hurriedly 
follow  them  through  the  varying  fortunes  of  their  journey. 

On  the  sixth  of  July  they  crossed  the  plateau  or  highland 
between  the  two  forks,  arriving  at  the  north  branch  about 


OR,  THR   BORDRR   WARS  OF  TWO   CENTURIES. 


',Wi 


noon.  They  proceeded  on  their  journey  without  interruption 
nntil  the  eighth  of  July,  when,  about  Ave  o'clock  in  the  eve- 
ning the  carnvan  made  a  sudden  halt.  "There  was,"  says 
Preuss,  "a  galloping  in  of  scouts  and  horsomon  from  every 
side — a  hurrying  to  and  fro  in  noisy  confusion;  rifles  were  taken 
from  their  covers;  bullet  pouches  were  examined;  in  short, 
there  was  the  cry  of  '  Indians  I '  heard  again.  I  had  become 
80  much  accustomed  to  these  alarms  that  before  I  had  time  to 
become  excited,  the  new  comers  were  ascertained  to  be  whites." 
It  was  a  large  party  of  traders  and  trappers,  conducted  by 
Mr.  Bridger,  a  man  well  known  to  the  history  of  western 
adventure.  On  the  fourteenth  of  July  the  party  under  Mr. 
Preuss  arrived  at  Fort  Laramie,  where,  on  the  following  day, 
as  we  have  seen,  they  were  joined  by  Colonel  Fremont. 

Fort  Laramie  was  a  quadrangular  structure,  built  of  clay, 
after  the  fashion  of  the  Mexicans.  The  walls  were  about  fif- 
teen feet  high,  surmounted  with  a  wooden  palisade  and  formed 
a  portion  of  ranges  of  houses,  which  entirely  surrounded  a 
yard  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  square.  Every 
apartment  had  its  door  and  window,  all  of  course  opening  on 
the  inside.  There  were  two  entrances,  opposite  each  other  and 
midway  of  the  wall,  one  of  which  was  a  large  public  entrance, 
the  other  smaller  and  more  private.  Over  the  larger  was  a 
squai-e  tower,  with  loopholes,  and,  like  the  rest  of  the  work, 
built  of  earth.  At  two  of  the  angles,  and  diagonally  opposite 
each  other,  were  large  bastions,  so  arranged  as  to  sweep  the 
fonr  faces  of  the  walls. 

This  post  belonged  to  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  at 
this  date,  July  sixteenth,  1842,  was  in  charge  of  Mr.  Boudeau. 
Two  of  the  company's  clerks,  Galpin  and  Kellogg,  were  with 
him,  and  he  had  a  garrison  of  sixteen  men.  As  usual  these 
had  found  wives  among  the  Indian  squaws,  and  with  the  usual 
accompany ment  of  children  the  place  had  quite  a  populous 
appearance.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  the  establish- 
ment of  this  post  was  for  purposes  of  trade  with  the  neigh- 
boring tribes,  who,  in  the  course  of  a  year,  generally  made 
three  or  four  visits  to  the  fort. 

While  at  this  post  Col.  Fremont  learned  the  following  cir- 


ADVKNTUUKH   OK   FUKMONT    AND   KIT   (UKHON: 


ounistanceB,  which  explain  the  cuiulition  of  tho  countrj  at  thii 
time:  For  several  years  the  Chuyennefl  and  Hioux  had  gra- 
dually become  more  and  more  hostile  to  the  whites,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  August,  1841,  had  had  a  rather  severe  ungtif^- 
tnent  with  a  party  of  sixty  men,  under  the  comman<l  of  Mr. 
Frapp,  of  St.  I^uis.  The  Indians  lost  eight  or  ten  warriors, 
and  the  whites  had  their  leader  and  four  men  killed.  This  fight 
took  place  on  the  waters  of  Snake  river,  and  it  was  this  party, 
on  their  return  under  Mr.  Bridger,  which  had  H])read  ho  iinich 
alarm  among  Preuss'  party.  In  the  course  of  the  spring,  two 
other  small  parties  had  been  cut  off  by  the  Sioux — one  on  tlioir 
return  from  the  Crow  nation,  and  the  other  among  the  Black 
hills.  The  emigrants  to  Oregon  and  Mr.  Bridger's  party  met 
here  a  few  dayH  before  Fremont's  arrival.  Division  and  mis- 
understandings had  grown  up  among  them ;  they  were  alreaoy 
somewhat  disheartened  by  the  fatigue  of  their  long  and  weari- 
some journey,  and  the  feet  of  their  cattle  had  become  so  much 
worn  as  to  be  scarcely  able  to  travel.  In  this  situation  they 
were  not  likely  to  find  encouragement  in  the  hostile  attitude 
of  the  Indians,  and  the  new  and  unexpected  difiiculties  which 
sprang  up  before  them.  They  were  told  that  the  country  was 
entirely  swept  of  grass,  and  that  few  or  no  buffalo  were  to  be 
found  on  their  line  of  route,  and,  with  their  weakened  animals, 
it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  transport  tlieir  heavy 
wagons  over  the  mountains.  Under  these  circumstances,  they 
disposed  of  their  wagons  and  cattle  at  the  forts,  selling  them 
at  the  prices  they  had  paid  in  the  States,  and  taking  in  exchange 
coffee  and  sugar  at  one  dollar  a  pound,  and  miserable  worn-out 
horses,  which  died  before  they  reached  the  mountains.  From 
these  and  other  reports  it  appeared  that  the  country  was  swarm- 
ing with  scattered  war  parties.  Great  alarm  prevailed  among 
Fremont's  men  in  consequence.  Kit  Carson  was,  however, 
true  to  his  employer,  yet  he  fully  supported  the  opinion  given 
by  Bridger  of  the  dangerous  state  of  the  country,  and  openly 
expressed  his  conviction  that  they  could  not  escape  without 
some  sharp  encounters  with  the  Indians.  In  addition  to  this, 
he  made  his  will,  and  among  the  circumstances  which  were 
constantly  occurring  to  increase  their  alarm,  this  was  the  most 


OR,   TIIK    lloKDKIi   WAKH   OF  TWO   (TKNTUKin. 


369 


iitit'ortiiiinto.  C>ol.  Fntinont  found  timt  n  niiinlxir  of  hii  party 
had  l»cc'oiii()  so  much  intiiiiidutod  thut  thay  had  reqiietitud  to  be 
(liMclinr^t'd. 

CoiicurniiiK  tlio  inannor  in  which  Fron>ont'»  party  ucciipied 
theiuHolvuH  whilu  at  this  post,  wo  have  the  following  from  the 
ColonoPB  pun:  ''So  far  as  frequent  interruption  from  the 
ItuliuiiM  w«)uld  allow,  we  occupied  ourselves  in  making  some 
nHtrononiicul  calculations,  and  bringing  up  the  general  map  to 
tliiti  stage  of  our  journey;  but  the  tent  was  generally  occu])iod 
1)V  a  succession  of  our  ceremonious  visitors.  Some  came  for 
prettcnts,  and  others  for  information  of  our  object  in  coming  to 
the  country;  now  and  then,  one  would  dart  up  to  the  tent  on 
horseback,  jerk  oif  his  trappings,  and  stand  silently  at  the 
door,  holding  his  horse  by  the  halter,  signifying  his  desire  to 
trade.  Occasionally  a  savage  would  stalk  in  with  an  invitation 
to  a  feast  of  honor,  a  dog  feast,  and  deliberately  sit  down  and 
wait  quietly  until  I  was  ready  to  accompany  him.  I  went  to 
one;  the  women  and  children  were  sitting  outside  the  lodge, 
and  we  took  our  seats  on  buffalo  robes  spread  around.  The 
dog  was  in  a  large  pot  over  the  tire,  in  the  middle  of  the  lodge, 
and  immediately  on  our  arrival  was  dished  up  in  large  wooden 
bowls,  one  of  which  was  handed  to  each.  The  flesh  appeared 
very  glutinous,  with  something  of  the  flavor  and  appearance 
of  mutton.  Feeling  something  move  behind  me,  ^  looked 
round,  and  found  that  I  had  taken  my  seat  among  a  hi  r-,r  of 
fat  young  puppies.  Had  I  been  nice  in  such  matters,  the  pre- 
judices of  civilization  might  have  interfered  with  my  tranquil- 
ity; but,  fortunately,  I  am  not  of  delicate  nerves,  and  con- 
tinued quietly  to  empty  my  platter."  * 

On  the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  of  July,  Col.  Fremont 
l^athereti  his  men  around  him  and  told  them  that  he  had  de- 
termined to  proceed  the  following  day  on  his  journey.  He 
mentioned  the  reports  that  had  been  made,  but  said  that  in 
view  of  their  equipments  he  could  not  see  sufHcient  reason  for 
returning;  yet  he  was  unwilling  to  take  with  him  on  a  service 
of  certain  danger  men  on  whom  he  could  not  rely,  and  know- 
ing that  there  were  some  in  his  party  wlio  were  disposed  to 
cowardice  and  anxious  to  return,  he  asked  all  such  to  come 
24 


'I 


V   • 


370 


ADVKMYUKKt   Ot   KKKMONT   AND    KIT   OAKMDN: 


forward  at  onco  und  stiite  tliuir  du«iro,  mid  tliuy  would  ho  dii. 
churgtNl  with  tlio  amount  duo  tliuin  tor  the  time  thuy  jiad 
•ervvd.  To  thoir  honor,  be  it  naid,  only  one  of  thuir  iiuiiiIm)! 
had  the  face  to  ifo  forward  and  avail  himiulf  of  the  permiMniun. 


r-j'-:. 


^ 

^        1 

w 

WKi  ig  1 

'V 

]|{ 

:i^-'^ 

,  i  ft 


.,>i 


CIIAPTKR     XL  VI II. 


JOUKNKT  or  PHRMOKT'i  EXPKDITION  flWH  FoilT  LaRAMIR  TO  PHRMOMT't 
I'KAK  IN  TIIK    UOCKY     MoUNTAINfl  —  IIaHMIIIPH    or    COLONKI,    FrB- 

MONT  — His  OKicHirnoN  or  tuk  Wild  8ornrry  in  tiir  IIoort 
Mountain!  —  Prrmunt  Tiiirtrrn  Tiiouiand  Frbt  Aiiovr  the 
liKVRti  or  TIIR  8ra  —  Thr  Krtvrn. 

VViiKN  Fbkmont  was  ready  to  depart  on  the  twenty-first  of 
July,  ho  received  a  letter  from  Joseph  Bessonette,  at  Fort 
Platte,  informing  him  that  the  chiefs  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
fort  had  advised  him  to  warn  Colonel  Fremont  and  his  party 
not  to  set  out  until  the  party  of  young  men  then  out  should 
return.  The  latter  party  was  represented  as  hostile  to  the 
whitcH,  and  that  they  would  be  sure  to  fire  upon  them  if  tliey 
were  discovered. 

After  reading  this  note  (^olonel  Fremont  mentioned  its  pur- 
port to  his  companions,  after  which  one  of  the  chiefs,  the  one 
wiio  bore  the  letter,  rose  and  said: 

''  You  have  come  among  us  at  a  bad  time.  Some  of  our 
people  have  been  killed,  and  our  young  men,  who  are  gone  to 
the  mountains,  are  eager  to  avenge  the  blood  of  their  rela- 
tions, which  has  been  shed  by  the  whites.  Our  young  men  are 
bad,  and,  if  they  meet  you,  they  will  believe  that  you  are  car- 
rying goods  and  ammunition  to  their  enemies,  and  will  lire 
upon  you.  You  have  told  us  that  this  will  make  war.  We 
know  that  our  great  father  has  many  soldiers  and  big  guns, 
and  we  are  anxious  to  have  our  lives.  We  love  the  whites,  and 
arc  desirous  of  ^  oace.  Thinking  of  all  these  things,  we  have 
determined  to  keep  you  here  until  our  warriors  return.  We 
lire  glad  to  see  you  among  us.  Our  father  is  rich,  and  we 
expected  that  you  would  liave  brought  presents  to  us — horses, 
and  guns,  and  blankets.    But  we  are  glad  to  see  yon.     We 

(871) 


87^ 


AhVKNTl'NM  or   riiKMoNT   ANI>  Krr  oakmin: 


ti 


'I 


t«H)k  upon  yoiir  (•oiiiIii^m  tlui  |[|(lit  which  K(n*ii  Utt'oru  the  huh; 
tor  you  will  tell  our  grt*iit  t'uthur  thnt  you  Imvit  mmmi  u»,  nrid 
that  wi)  imi  luiktMl  hihI  poor,  uu«l  Iimvu  iiotliitig  to  uHt;  ititl  h« 
will  Ht'tul  UM  nil  th(!M)  thin^H.*' 

Tho  ruiimrkM  ot'  thu  Huvu^t  iipprnruti  rrnitonuhlu;  hut  Krc 
iiioiit  iMtliovnl  thiit  thuy  hi»)i  in  viuw  only  thu  ohjtHrt  (»t'  ilftiiiti' 
in^  hirii,  hihI  \w  reMolvtxl  to  ^ivo  no  luH«vi  tu  their  wiirnin^,  lie 
r«4iuvHti>i|  itonin  of  thu  Indiunn  to  ncconipiuiy  him,  and  iit\vt 
much  rulucttinco  ono  (•onucntoU.  Thu  |mrty  thun  mountH 
their  liorMuM,  niul  in  n  fuw  hours  thoy  wuru  tUr  uwHy  uinoti^  the 
hilirt,  tho  routu  luuding  over  nn  intoroHtinj^  plHtuiiu  between  the 
north  fork  of  tho  Pliitte  on  tho  ri^ht  und  liiiriimio  on  tho  left, 
Tho  party  conHintod  of  thoHo  who  hud  originally  Htarted  niit 
with  Fremont,  uxcopt  tho  man  who  was  (littchar^l  at  Fort 
Laramio,  with  three  others,  Mr.  HiMonetto,  \m  wife,  and  tlit 
Indian  who  had  volunteorod  to  accompany  them.  Continuing 
their  journey,  thoy  fortunately  roache<l  tho  South  Pa«H  of  tho 
Rocky  Mountains,  without  encountering  a  single  hostile 
Indian. 

Fruinont  had  now  reached  tlio  Held  where  it  was  oxi)ecti>d 
IiIh  laliors  w<tuld  develop  Homothing  of  value  to  the  country. 
After  making  some  ohHorvations,  he  prepared  to  ascend  the 
highoHt  peak  of  the  mountain.  In  8|)eaking  of  the  condition 
of  hirt  party  at  thiHtime,  AuguM  twelfth,  Fremont  sayx:  ''The 
spirits  of  tho  men  had  been  much  exhausted  by  the  hardships 
and  privations  to  which  thoy  had  been  subjected.  Our  provis- 
ions had  well  nigh  all  diitappoared.  Bread  had  been  long  out 
of  the  question;  and  of  all  our  stock,  we  had  remaining  two  or 
three  poundH  of  coffee,  and  a  small  quantity  of  maccaroni, 
which  had  been  husbandeil  with  great  care  for  the  mountain 
expedition  wo  were  about  to  undertake.  Our  daily  meal  con- 
siHte<l  of  dry  buftalo  meat,  cooked  in  tallow;  and,  as  we  hntl 
not  dried  thin  with  Indian  skill,  part  of  it  was  spoiled;  and 
what  remained  of  good,  was  as  hard  an  wood,  having  much  the 
taste  and  ap|)earance  of  so  many  pieces  of  bark.  Even  of  this, 
our  stock  was  rapidly  diminishing  in  a  camp  which  was  capa- 
ble of  consuming  two  buffaloes  in  every  twenty-four  hours. 
These  animals  had  entirely  disappeared;  and  it  was  not  proba- 


UR«   TIIK    HitKltKli    MAIM   Of   TWO  UKNITKIia. 


Uib 


lilo  tlint  wv  mIuhiIiI  full  in  with  tliiMii  n^in  until  w«  n'tiirnni 
fo  tlir  Swri't  WutiT.     Our  urrun^^cMncMitM  (or  tlu»  Huci'Ut  wt-ro 
rii|>i*lly  <'oiti|>li*ti>il.     W'v  w<<r«*  in  ii  lioMtilo  country,  wliicli  rt>n- 
iJonNJ  tho^rfutimt  vi^iliinci)  uiul  fii-cuniH|>«>«'tion  lU'ccMiiitry.   Tliu 
piiMH  lit  tlu)  north  uiul  of  tlio  mountain  wim  ^fniuritlly  int'imttxl 
!)>'  Itlu('kti>t>t',  and  irntn(><liutcly  opinmiti*  wum  oik*  of  tlirir  fortit, 
on  tliu  uil^u  of  n  littlo  tliickut,  two  or  tlirm  liundrtMl  ft>«>t  from 
Dtir  oncumpinunt.     Wo  wcro  |Mmt(<(|  in  u  ^(rovu  of  U't'cli,  on  tho 
iimr^in  of  tlut  liikc,  and  h  fi>w  liundrivl  fret  lon^,  willi  ii  narrow 
prairi/lon  on  tlm  inni>r  ni«li',  l>ordor(>(|  l»y  tins  rocky  ri<lj(t«.     In 
till'  upper  end  of  tliii*  ^rove  wu  cifiired  u  circidiir  Hpuci>  iiWout 
forty  foot  in  diiunetrr,  and,  with  tho  folliMl  timlntr  and  intrr< 
wovtMi  brnnchoM,  Hurroundo<l  it  with  a  hrt'a.Hfwork  (iv»  foot  in 
hoi^ht.     A  ^ap  waM  loft  for  a  ^atu  on  tho  innor  Hido,  hy  M-hich 
thu  animals  woro  to  Ik)  driven  in  and  Bocurod,  while  tho  nien 
slept  around  tho  little  work.     It  waH  half  hidden  hy  the  f(»lia^o; 
and,  garrisoneil  hy  twelve  rcBolute  men,  wouhl  have  Hot  at  <letl- 
anco  any   hand   of  Havana  which   might  chance  to  diHCover 
thotn  in   tho  interval  of  our  abHonco.      Fifteen  of  tho   best 
niulofl,   with  fourtctM)   men,  were  sclocted   for  tho  mountain 
party.     Our  proviHionH  conRitttcd  of  dried  meat  for  two  daya, 
with  our  little  Btock  of  eoft'ee  and  some  Miawaroni.     In  a<ldi- 
tion  to  the  barometer  and  a  thermometer,  I  took  with  me  a 
Bcxtant  and  spyglass,  and  wo  had  of  eoursoour  coin[)iiHi<rs.     In 
charge  of  tho  camp  I  left  Ik'rnier,  one  of  my  most  trustwortliy 
men,  who  possessed  the  most  determined  courage.     Karly  in 
the  morning,  August  twelfth,  we  left  the  camp,  Hlteon  in  num- 
ber, well  armed,  of  course,  and  mounted  on  our  best  mules.    A 
puck  animal  carried  our  provisions,  witii  a  cofl'eo  pot  and  kettle, 
and  three  or  four  tin  cups.     Every  man  had  a  blanket  strap])ed 
o\cp  his  saddle,  to  serve  for  his  bed,  and  the  instruments  were 
carrii^d  by  turns  on  their  backs.     We  entered  directly  on  rough 
and  rocky  ground ;  and,  just  after  crossing  tho  ridge,  had  the 
good  fortune  to  shoot  an  antelope.     "We  heard  the  roar,  and 
had  a  glimpse  of  a  waterfall  as  we  rode  along;  and,  crossing  in 
our  way  two  fine  streams,  tributary  to  the  (.olorado,  in  about 
two  hours'  ride  we  reached  the  top  of  tlio  first  row  or  range  of 
the  mountains.     Mere,  again,  a  view  of  the   most  romantic 


V'  * 


m:'' 


874 


ADVENTURES   OF   FRKMONT   ANT)   KIT  CAttSON: 


beauty  met  our  eyes.  It  seemed  as  it",  from  the  vast  expanse 
of  uninteresting  prairie  we  had  passeil  over,  Nature  liad  col- 
lected all  her  beauties  together  in  one  chosen  place.  We  wore 
overlooking  a  deep  valley,  which  was  entirely  occu])ied  by 
three  lakes,  and  from  the  brink  the  surrounding  ridges  rose 
precipitously  five  hundred  and  a  thousand  feet,  covered  with 
the  dark  green  of  the  balsam  pine,  relieved  on  the  border  of 
the  lake  with  the  light  foliage  of  the  aspen.  They  all  comnui- 
nicated  with  each  other;  and  the  green  of  the  waters,  common 
to  mountain  lakes  of  great  depth,  showed  that  it  would  bo  im- 
possible to  cross  them.  The  surprise  manifested  by  ourgniiles 
when  these  impassible  obstacles  suddenly  barred  our  progress 
proved  that  they  were  among  the  hidden  treasures  of  the))ince, 
unknown  even  to  the  wandering  trapjjcrs  of  the  region. 
Descending  the  hill,  we  proceeded  to  make  our  way  along  tin 
margin  to  the  southern  extremity.  A  narrow  strip  of  angular 
fragments  of  rock  sometimes  afforded  a  rough  pathway  for  our 
mules,  but  generally  we  rode  along  the  shelving  side,  occa- 
sionally scrambling  up,  at  a  considerable  risk  of  tumbling  back 
into  the  lake.  The  pines  grew  densely  together,  and  the  grouud 
was  covered  with  the  branches  and  trunks  of  trees.  The  air 
was  fragrant  with  the  odor  of  the  pines;  and  I  realized  this 
delightful  morning  the  pleasure  of  breathing  that  mountain 
air  which  makes  a  constant  theme  of  the  hunter's  praise,  and 
which  now  made  us  feel  as  if  we  had  all  been  drinking  some 
exhilarating  gas.  The  depth  of  this  unexplored  forest  was  a 
place  to  delight  the  heart  of  a  botanist.  There  was  a  rich 
undergrowth  of  plants,  and  numerous  gay-colored  flowers  in 
brilliant  bloom." 

The  region  which  the  mountain  expedition  was  now  in,  pre- 
sented many  wild  and  romantic  features.  The  position  was 
very  elevated,  and  in  the  valley  below,  and  among  the  hills, 
were  a  number  of  lakes  at  different  levels,  some  two  or  three 
hundred  feet  above  others  with  which  they  communicated  hy 
foaming  torrents.  Even  to  this  great  height,  the  roar  of  the 
cataracts  came  up,  and  the  bold  explorer  could  see  them  leaping 
down  in  lines  of  snowy  foam.  On  the  thirteenth  of  August, 
Fremont  determined  to  ascend  the  most  elevated  peak.    For 


OR,   TlIK   UORDKR   WAR8  OF  TWO   OKNTURIKS. 


376 


tliiH  purpose  he  left  the  animals,  and  continued  on  foot.  The 
peak  appeared  bo  near,  that  tliere  was  no  doubt  of  their  return- 
ing^ before  night;  and  a  few  men  were  left  in  charge  of  the 
mules,  with  the  provisions  and  blankets.  They  took  with 
tlicin  nothing  but  their  arms  and  instruments,  and,  as  the  day 
iiiul  become  warm,  the  greater  part  left  their  coats.  They  wero 
80011  involved  in  the  most  ragged  precipices,  nearing  the  cen- 
tral chain  very  slowly,  and  rising  but  little.  The  first  ridge 
hid  a  succession  of  others;  and  when,  with  great  fatigue,  and 
(litfic'ulty,  they  had  climbed  up  five  hundred  feet,  it  was  but  to 
make  an  equal  descent  on  the  other  side;  all  these  intervening 
j)la('e8  were  filled  with  small  deep  lakes,  which  met  the  eye  in 
every  direction,  descending  from  one  level  tc  another,  some- 
times under  bridges  formed  by  huge  fragments  of  granite, 
beneath  which  was  heard  the  roar  of  the  water.  Tliese  con- 
stantly obstructed  their  path,  forcing  them  to  make  long 
di'tours/  frequently  obliged  to  retrace  their  steps,  and  fre- 
quently falling  among  the  rocks.  Maxwell  was  precipitated 
toward  the  face  of  a  precipice,  and  saved  himself  from  going 
ov'jr  by  throwing  himself  flat  on  the  ground.  They  clambered 
or.,  always  expecting,  with  every  ridge  that  they  crossed,  to 
reach  the  foot  of  the  peaks,  and  always  disappointed,  until 
about  four  o'clock,  when,  pretty  well  worn  out,  they  reached 
the  shore  of  a  little  lake,  in  which  there  was  a  rocky  island. 
They  remained  here  a  short  time  to  rest,  and  continued  on 
around  the  lake,  which  had  in  some  places  a  beach  of  white 
sand,  and  in  others  was  bound  with  rocks,  over  which  the  way 
was  difficult  and  dangerous,  as  the  water  from  innumerable 
springs  made  them  very  slippery. 

By  the  time  they  had  reached  the  further  side  of  the  lake, 
they  found  themselves  all  exceedingly  fatigued,  and,  much  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  whole  party,  they  encamped.  The  spot 
they  had  chosen  was  a  broad  flat  rock,  in  some  measure  pro- 
tected from  the  winds  by  the  surrounding  crags,  and  the  trunks 
of  fallen  pines  afforded  them  good  fires. 

On  the  following  day,  Fremont  informs  us  in  his  report, 
that  as  they  advanced,  they  heard  "  the  roar  of  waters  and  of 


S 

\ 


I':! 


37«i 


w 


ADVKNTlIKKa   OF    KKKMONT    AND   KIT   CAKJ'ON: 


a  torrent,   wliicli    wo  followed   up  a  short  ilifttunco,  until  it 
expanded  into  a  luko  about  one  mile  in  length. 

"  On  tlic  northern  side  of  the  lake  was  a  bank  of  ice,  or  rather 
of  rinow  covered  with  a  crust  of  ice.  Carson  had  been  our 
guide  into  the  mountains,  and,  agreeably  to  his  advice,  we  li'ft 
this  little  valley,  and  took  to  the  ridges  again;  which  we  found 
extremely  broken,  and  where  we  were  again  involved  among 
precipices.  Here  were  ice  fields;  among  which  wo  were  all 
dispersed,  seeking  each  the  best  path  to  ascend  the  peak.  Mr. 
Preuss  attempted  to  walk  along  the  upper  edge  of  one  of  these 
fields,  which  sloped  away  at  an  angle  of  about  twenty  degrees; 
but  his  feet  slipped  from  under  him,  and  he  went  plunging 
down  the  plani.  A  few  hundred  feet  below,  at  the  bottom, 
were  some  fragments  of  sharp  rock,  on  which  ho  landed ;  and 
though  he  turned  a  couple  of  somersaults,  fortunately  receive  1 
no  injury  beyond  a  few  bruises.  Two  of  the  men  Clement 
Lambert  and  Descoteaux,  had  been  taken  ill,  and  lay  down  on 
the  rocks  a  short  distance  below;  and  at  this  point  I  was 
attacked  with  headache  and  giddiness,  accompanied  by  vomit- 
ing, as  on  the  day  before.  Finding  myself  unable  to  proceed, 
I  sent  the  barometer  over  to  Mr.  Preuss,  who  was  in  a  gap  two 
or  three  hundred  yards  distant,  desiring  him  to  reach  the  peak, 
if  possible,  and  take  an  observation  there.  He  fourid  himself 
unable  to  proceed  further  in  that  direction,  and  took  an  obser- 
vation, where  the  barometer  stood  at  19.401;  attached  ther- 
mometer 50°,  in  the  gap.  Carson,  who  had  gone  over  to  him, 
succeeded  in  reaching  one  of  the  snowy  summits  of  the  main 
ridge,  whence  he  saw  the  peak  towards  which  all  our  e^brts  had 
been  directed,  towering  eight  or  ten  hundred  feet  into  the  air 
above  him.  In  the  meantime,  finding  myself  growing  rather 
worse  than  better,  and  doubtful  how  far  my  strength  would 
iarry  me,  I  sent  Jiasil  Lajeunessd,  with  four  men,  back  to  tlie 
place  where  the  mules  had  been  left.  We  were  now  better 
acquainted  with  the  topography  of  the  country,  and  I  directed 
him  to  bring  back  with  him,  if  it  were  in  any  way  possible, 
four  or  five  mules,  with  provisions  and  blankets.  With  me 
were  Maxwell  and  Ayer;  and  after  we  had  remained  nearly  an 
hour  on  the  rock,  it  became  so  unpleasantly  cold,  though  the 


OR,  TIIB   H()H1)KK   WAI«  W  TWO  OENTURIffl. 


877 


(lay  \vii8  l)n*<j^l>t,  tlmt  we  set  out  on  our  return  to  the  catnp,  at 
wliicli  we  all  arrived  autuly,  Htra<j;gHng  in  one  after  the  other. 
I  continued  ill  duriiij^  the  afternoon,  hut  l)e(;anie  hetter  towards 
sundown,  when  my  recovery  was  completed  hy  the  appearance 
of  Basil  and  four  men,  all  mounted.  The  men  who  had  gone 
with  him  had  been  too  much  fatigued  to  return,  and  were 
relieved  by  those  in  charge  of  the  horses;  but  in  his  powers  of 
ciuiurance  Basil  resembled  more  a  mountain  goat  than  a  man. 
They  brought  blankets  and  provisions,  and  we  enjoyed  well  our 
dried  meat  and  a  cup  of  good  coffee.  We  rolled  ourselves  up 
in  our  blankets,  and  with  our  feet  turned  to  a  blazing  lire,  slept 
soundly  until  morning." 

On  the  morning  of  the  iitleenth  of  August,  after  having 
abandoned  the  idea  of  reaching  the  highest  peak,  and  after  Kit 
Carson,  with  his  party,  had  set  out  for  the  camp,  the  brave 
leader  made  another  attempt  to  gain  the  summit,  and  was  this 
time  successful.  The  peak  was  found  to  be  thirteen  thousand 
live  hundred  feet  above  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
This  lofty  pinnacle  has  been  appropriately  called  Fremont's 
Peak. 

As  the  brave  Colonel  stood  upon  this  lofty  mountain  peak, 
his  view  was  full  of  the  deepest  interest.  He  says:  "  On  one 
side  was  Wind  river  valley,  where  were  the  heads  of  the  Yellow- 
stone branch  of  the  Missouri;  far  to  the  north,  we  just  could 
discover  the  snowy  heads  of  the  Trois  Tetons,  where  were  the 
sources  of  the  Missouri  and  Columbia  rivers;  and  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  ridge,  the  peaks  were  plainly  visible, 
among  which  were  some  of  the  springs  of  the  Nebraska  and 
Platte  rivers.  Around  us,  the  whole  scene  had  one  main 
striking  feature,  which  was  that  of  terrible  convulsion.  Par- 
allel to  its  length,  the  ridge  was  split  into  chasms  and  fissures; 
between  which  rose  the  thin  lofty  walls,  terminated  with 
slender  minarets  and  columns.  According  to  the  barometer, 
the  little  crest  of  the  wall  on  which  we  stood  was  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  and  seventy  feet  above  that  place,  and  two 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  above  tlie  little  lakes  at 
the  bottom,  immediately  at  our  feet." 
Having  made  all  the  observations  necessary,  the   Colonel 


878 


1', 


ADVENTITRES  OF   FREMONT   AND   KIT  CARSON: 


began  the  descent,  Imving  uccoinplished  an  object  of  laudable 
ambition,  and,  indeed,  beyond  the  strict  order  of  hiio  instnic- 
tion.  He  liad  climbed  to  the  loftiest  peak  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  an«l  looked  down  upon  the  enow  a  thousand  feet 
below,  and,  standing  where  never  human  foot  had  stood  befoie, 
justly  felt  the  exultation  of  first  explorers.* 

Of  the  descent  he  says:  "We  reached  our  deposite  of  pro- 
visions at  nightfall.  Here  was  not  the  inn  which  awaits  the 
tired  traveler  on  his  return  from  Mont  Blanc,  or  the  orange 
groves  of  South  America,  with  their  refreshing  juices  and  soft 
fragrant  air;  but  we  found  our  little  cae/te  of  dried  meat  ami 
coifee  undisturbed.  Though  the  moon  was  bright,  the  road 
was  full  of  precipices,  and  the  fatigue  of  the  day  had  been 
great.  We  therefore  abandoned  the  idea  of  joining  our  friends, 
and  lay  down  on  the  rock,  and,  in  spite  of  the  cold,  slent 
soundly." 

Fremont  and  his  party  reached  the  main  camp  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  sixteenth,  where  they  found  all  enjoying  jieace  and 
quiet,  and,  on  the  following  morning,  he  gave  the  order  for  the 
homeward  march,  whicli  was  received  with  joy.  They  trav- 
eled on,  liungry  and  foot  sore,  until  the  nineteenth,  when 
buffaloes  again  made  their  a})pearance,  and  in  the  evening, 
when  they  halted,  at  the  Sweet  Water,  roasted  ribs  made  their 
appearance  around  their  fires,  and,  with  them,  good  humor  and 
laughter  and  song  were  restored  to  the  camp.  After  a  long,  and, 
in  some  respects,  pleasant  journey,  the  expedition  arrived  at 
Fort  Laramie  and  thence  to  the  settlements  on  the  frontiers  of 
Missouri  on  the  first  of  October,  after  an  absence  of  six  months. 

*  Fremont's  Report. 


A 


h' 


ciiAptek  xlix. 

Skktch  ok  Kit  Cahson  —  His  Eaiu.y  Aiivkntiiiiks  —  His  Fikht  Visit 
TO  TiiK  Fau  West  —  IIk  DiBTiNunsiiioB  Himself  as  a  Hunter, 
Guide,  and  Scout — His  Advkntuueb  on  the  Bacuamento — Mr. 
Yocnq'8  Trapping  Party. 


Lkavino  Col.  FremoTit  among  his  friends  in  the  settlements 
of  civilization,  let  us  return  to  Fort  Laramie,  where  Kit  Carson 
had  been  left,  and  follow  the  latter  through  some  of  the  vary- 
ing  fortunes  M'hich  characterized  his  life,  from  September,  1842, 
until  he  joined  Fremont's  second  expedition,  in  1843. 

Carson  had  evidently  won  the  highest  esteem  of  Fremont, 
and  in  the  performance  of  the  double  duty  of  guide  and  hunter 
for  the  expedition,  he  had  rendered  valuable  service,  which 
may  be  considered  as  fruitful  to  his  employer's  success.    At  this 
point  I  will  carry  the  reader  back  a  few  years  for  the  purpose 
of  glancing  at  some  of  the  more  important  events  in  the  early 
life  of  this    bold   and   sagacious   mountaineer.     Cliristo})her 
Carson  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1809.     When  an  infant,  his 
parents  migrated  to  the  frontier  settlements  of  Missouri,  where 
they  lived  in  a  little  log  house  which  has  been  already  men- 
tioned in  a  previous  chapter.     At  an  early  age  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  harness-maker,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years, 
wlieii,  becoming  enticed  by  the  thrilling  accounts  of  the  wild 
life  in  the  AVest,  he  resolved  to  throw  off  the  restraint  of  civil- 
ization and  share  in  the  sports  of  the  buffalo  hunt,  with  the 
Indians,    trappers,    and    mountaineers   of    "  the    unexplored 
regions  toward   the  setting  sun."     Joining  an  expedition  in 
1820,  he  was  soon  in  the  country  of  the  prairies,  where  the 
Indian  chief  held  dominion.     The  route  lay  across  the  western 
country  to  Santa  Fe.     Game  was  abundant,  and  the  youthful 
Kit  had  a  good  opportunity  for  testing  his  ability  as  a  hunter. 

(379) 


88(> 


AI)VKNTi;|{l>>    OK    KKKMONT    AND    KIT    ("AI{8»>N: 


III  the  ct)urHO  of  tlio  journey  one  of  tlie  men  was  Hcei'leiitally 
Hhot  througli  the  arm,  aiid  amputation  bein|j^  necoBsarv,  Kit 
Carson  was  called  nptm  to  ])erform  the  surgical  opcniiion, 
which  he  executed  with  good  success.  In  November  the  p.-ntv 
arrived  at  Santa  Fe,  having  experienced  nothing  very  reiimiku- 
ble  during  the  journey.  Soon  after  their  arrival,  Car^^on  left 
his  companions  and  visited  Taos,  a  Mexican  town  in  the  terrj. 
tory  of  New  Mexico.  At  this  place  lie  commenced  the  stiidv 
of  the  Spanish  language  under  the  instruction  of  Kin  CiuJe. 
In  this  undertaking  he  was  quite  successful. 

At  length  poverty  compelled  him  to  attempt  the  return  to 
Missouri,  winch  he  had  half  accomplished  when  ho  fell  in  with 
a  westward  bound  expedition  in  which  he  was  ofJ'ered  etnplov- 
ment.  This  he  gladly  accepted,  and  at  onco  began  to  retrace 
liis  steps  to  Santa  Vo.  lie  had  not  been  long  at  the  latter  ]nuce 
before  he  again  found  himself  out  of  employment  and  in  great 
want.  At  this  critical  moment  lie  joined  a  party  that  was 
going  to  El  Paso.  Ho  completed  the  journey  to  this  place,  and 
then  returned  to  Taos,  where  he  entered  into  the  service  of  Mr. 
Ewing  Young,  a  trader  and  trapper,  performing  the  duties  of 
master  cook  for  the  consideration  of  his  board  only.  In  this 
way  the  persevering  Kit  supported  himself  ui\til  the  spring 
of  1828,  when,  saddened  with  ill-success,  he  again  joined  a 
returning  party,  and  set  out  for  Missouri;  but,  as  on  the  trip 
of  the  previous  year,  he  met  a  party  bound  for  Santa  Fe,  and 
again  engaged  to  turn  his  face  westward,  hoping,  it  is  said,  to 
meet  with  an  opportunity  of  going  to  the  Kocky  Mountains. 
Arriving  at  Santa  Fe,  Kit  obtained  employment  from  Col. 
Tromell,  a  well  known  trader,  in  the  capacity  of  Spanish  inter- 
preter. With  his  new  master  he  set  out  for  Chihuahua,  one 
of  the  Mexican  states.  But,  as  we  liave  seen,  his  luird  fortunes 
were  continually  changing.  At  the  latter  place  he  engaged  as 
teamster  with  Mr.  Robert  McKnight,  in  company  with  whom 
he  visited  the  copper  mines  near  the  EioGila.  Notwithstand- 
ing these  vicissitudes,  Carson  had  long  since  determined  to 
become  a  hunter  and  trapper,  and  was  only  awaiting  an  oppor- 
tunity to  join  a  party  in  this  pursuit. 

He  remained  at  the  copper  mines  but  a  short  time,  when  he 


OR,    TIIK    liOKDKK    WAIW   OK   TWO   OKNTUKIKS. 


881 


■t  time,  when  he 


returned  to  Tjioh,  where  he  met  a  KinuU  party  of  tnippers  who 
had  l>eeu  det'etited  by  a  band  of  hostile  IiidiuiiH  and  driven  to 
this  point.  The  party  had  been  in  the  emph)y  of  Mr.  Young, 
with  whom  Kit  had  formerly  worked,  and  tiiat  gentleman  now 
set  about  raising  a  party  of  forty  men,  consisting  of  Canadians, 
Frenchmen  and  Americans.  Among  the  latter,  of  course,  we 
tiiul  our  hero.  Mr.  Young  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  this 
jtarty,  and  started  out  with  tlie  intention  of  cluistising  the 
Indians,  and  making  all  he  could  out  of  the  expedition  by 
employing  the  men  as  trappers.  It  was  on  the  twenty-ninth 
of  April  that  the  party  left  Taos.  They  journe^'ed  northward 
ahout  fifty  miles  for  the  purpose  of  leading  the  Mexicans  to 
believe  that  they  were  bound  for  the  United  States,  but  after 
proceeding  thus  far  they  changed  their  course  to  the  southwest 
and  ])a88ed  through  the  wilds  of  the  Navajoes,  a  ferocious 
tribe  of  Indians,  over  wliom,  as  we  shall  see  in  the  course  of  our 
narrative,  Kit  Carson  at  a  later  day  achieved  a  decisive  victory. 
The  reasons  which  led  this  party  to  deceive  the  Mexicans  as  to 
their  destination  were  that  all  such  expeditions,  before  being 
permitted  to  hunt  on  Mexican  soil  must  procure  tlie  necessary 
license,  and  as  thq  latter  could  not  be  granted  to  American 
citizens,  the  course  pursued  by  Mr.  Young  is  obvious. 

As  they  journeyed  along  the  unexplored  regions  of  this 
country,  they  passed  through  Zuni,  a  Pueblo  village,  and  thence 
to  the  Salt  river,  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  \l\o  Gila.  On 
the  banks  of  this  stream  they  discovered  the  band  of  Indians 
who  had  routed  the  party  already  mentioned.  The  parties  had 
no  sooner  discovered  each  other  than  preparations  for  the 
battle  began  on  both  sides.  Mr.  Y'oung  ordered  most  of  his 
men  to  lie  in  ambush,  believing  that  the  enemy  were  ignorant 
of  his  strength.  His  plan  was  successful.  No  sooner  had  the 
whites  halted  to  prepare  their  ambuscade  than  the  savages, 
under  the  impression  that  the  invaders  were  about  to  retreat, 
made  a  rush  upon  them.  When  they  had  approached  fully 
within  the  trap  which  had  been  set  for  them,  they  were  greeted 
with  a  heavy  cross-fire  from  Young's  party.  Fifteen  warriors 
fell  dead  upon  the  spot,  and  the  rest  fled  in  utter  confusion. 
This  was  the  first  Indian  fight  in  which  Kit  Carson  partici- 


88'i 


Ar)VKN'ii;ui:H  ok  kkkmmnt  and  kit  oakhon: 


pated,  and  it  wuh  well  enlculutud  to  nrotiHO  liiii  lovo  tor  the 
huiitor'M  lit'o. 

The  pfti'ty  proccedetl  itj  comparative  peace  to  trap  on  Suit 
river,  until  they  ruuehed  the  head  waters  of  the  San  Kniticisci) 
river,  when  the  expedition  was  divided.  One  party,  in  which 
Kit  Carsoti  enlisted,  set  out  for  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento, 
in  (/aliforniu;  the  other  started  on  the  return  trip.  The  fornuT, 
which  was  commanded  by  Mr.  Y'oun^,  consisted  of  twenty 
persons.  Before  starting  for  this  unexplored  country  they 
spent  several  <lays  in  hunting,  in  order  to  lay  in  a  wtoro  of 
meat  for  the  journey.  They  also  provided  themselves  with  two 
large  tanks  of  water,  as,  according  to  reports,  there  waw  none  to 
be  found  on  their  route.  During  the  first  four  days  of  their 
journey  they  found  this  to  bo  true;  but  on  the  fifth  day  they 
came  to  a  deliglitful  stream,  where  they  resteti.  Leavi  \jf 
this  place  they  traveled  on  over  a  desert  country  for  several 
days,  when  at  length  they  came  in  sight  of  the  great  canon  of 
the  Colorado.  While  on  the  banks  of  this  river  they  met  a 
band  of  Indians  who  inluibited  that  country,  and  from  them 
they  purchased  a  horse,  which  they  killed  and  served  up  to  the 
tired  men.  The  lialf  famished  travelers  regarded  this  feast  as 
a  great  blessing. 

After  a  journey  of  many  days,  in  which  they  met  several 
Bmall  bands  of  Indians,  who  gave  them  tlie  most  exciting 
accounts  of  the  wonders  of  the  Sacramento  valley,  they  reached 
the  mission  of  San  Gabriel,  where  they  found  a  priest,  fifteen 
or  twenty  Mexican  soldiers  and  more  than  a  thousand  Indians. 
We  are  informed  that  this  little  settlement  owned  eighty  thou- 
sand head  of  cattle,  fine  fields  and  extensive  vineyards.  At 
this  place  Mr.  Young  exchanged  four  butcher  knives  for  a  fat 
ox.  Another  day's  march  brought  our  adventurers  to  a  Cath- 
olic mission  named  San  Fernando.  After  resting  the  party 
several  days  at  this  mission,  they  started  for  the  San  Joaquim 
river,  where  they  hoped  to  meet  the  beaver;  and  in  this  hope 
they  were  not  disappointed.  They  succeeded  in  procuring  a 
fine  lot  of  skins  which  Mr.  Young  sold  at  a  neighboring  post, 
and  with  the  proceeds  he  purchased  a  number  of  horses.  These 
had  been  in  the  camp  but  a  short  time  when  sixty  of  them 


OK,   TIIK    ilOKDKK   WAKH   <»K  TWO  (!l<uN'rUKIIC«. 


888 


were  HtoliMi  by  tliu  huliiuiD.  Ah  hooii  hh  the  rohbory  whh  dis- 
covered Kit  ('iirHoii  wtiii  ordureii  to  piirouu  the  thiovvH  with  tho 
twelve  ruinuiniii^  liorHOH  und  uh  iiiuiiy  tiion.  Hunt  oiieu  Hturtod 
tor  till)  Sierra  Nuviidu  inoiiiituiiiH,  to  which  thu  trtiil  of  thu 
hidiuiiH  lud  him.  When  ho  overtook  the  guilty  party  he  found 
them  feaHtin^  upon  iioriiu  fleHh,  Huverul  of  thu  tttolen  uiiinuiU 
iiuviiig  been  killed  for  tliat  purpose.  Not  bein^  observed  ho 
approached  as  near  as  possible  without  being  discovered,  and 
arranging  his  men  in  order,  the  party  of  twelve  charged  upon 
tlic  Indians.  Eight  of  the  warriors  wore  killed  in  their  tracks, 
the  rest  escaping  in  nuuiy  directions.  But  the  best  ])art  of 
Ciiriion's  success  was,  he  succeeded  in  recovering  all  the  horses 
except  those  which  had  been  killed  for  the  feast. 

The  party  continued  their  hunting  with  good  success  until 
September,  when  they  commenced  their  homeward  march. 
After  a  long  and  tedious  journey  they  reached  the  banks  of  the 
Colorado,  where  they  encamped  for  a  little  rest  preparatory  to 
L'onipleting  the  journey.  Here  they  were  visited  by  five  hun- 
dred Indians,  who,  although  professing  tViendship,  were  dis- 
covered to  be  armed  with  weapons  which  tliey  had  concealed 
under  their  robes.  The  whites  were  now,  indeed,  in  a  serious 
situation ;  but  at  length  Carson  found  ^  man  who  could  speak 
the  Spanish  language,  and  through  him  he  ordered  tho  Indians 
"to  leave  the  camp.  In  the  event  of  their  not  doing  so  imme- 
diately, he  and  his  friends  would,  without  further  parley,  com- 
mence hostilities,  and  would  be  sure  each  in  killing  his  man, 
although  they  might  all,  in  the  end,  lose  their  own  lives." 
The  Indians  being  now  certain  that  in  case  they  attacked  the 
party  some  of  their  own  number  would  lose  their  lives,  departed 
at  once,  leaving  the  little  band  once  more  at  peace.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say  that  for  this  bold  expedient  Carson  received 
the  thanks  of  his  comrades. 

After  encountering  several  bands  of  hostile  Indians  and 
taking  from  them  many  horses  which  they  had  stolen,  Mr. 
Young's  party  arrived  at  the  copper  mines,  on  the  Gila,  where 
they  concealed  the  large  quantity  of  furs  they  had  taken. 
From  this  place  the  party  went  to  Santa  Fe,  where  they  pur- 
chased licenses  to  trade  with  the  Indians  who  lived  about  the 


4i 

I 


4 


884 


ADVKNT17KKM   or    KKKMOM    ANI>    KIT   (IAUMoN: 


copper  miiioH.  \\y  tho  uho  of  tlu'no  piipofrt  tlu'y  H«>«rnr«<l  tlioir 
furn,  ciirrivil  tliom  to  Suntu  I'V,  iuhI,  uikUt  prt'ti'iico  <»t'  liaviri/]f 
purcliiiiiLHl  thuin  from  tho  InUiuiiH,  itokl  tliuiii  without  croatiri^ 
tlie  sli^htoMt  suspicion. 


(  I 


\  '- 


t     n 


f  . 


CHAPTER    I. 

Brktoh  of  Kit  ('aiwon  CoNTimrBO— DicMcniiTioN  or  tub  Mountain 
I'AiiKa— PuiiHitiNd  IIoHSKTniKVM  — Nine  HtTNTEHn  Defkat  Pimr 
Indian  Wahhiohi  —  Kit  Caiiion  Wounded— The  Dubi.. 


Ik  tub  fall  of  1830  we  iind  Kit  Canon  cutinected  with  a 
trapping  party,  which  began  its  operation!)  on  the  Salnion 
river.  They  remained  at  this  place  throughout  the  winter, 
losing  four  of  their  men,  who  were  killed  by  the  Blackfeet  Indi- 
ans. In  the  spring  they  went  to  Snake  Iliver,  where  they 
continucQ  trapping.  Thirt  is  one  of  the  mottt  delightful  places 
in  the  wilds  of  the  Great  West.  Among  the  many  attractions 
are  the  Shoshonee  Falls,  which  are  said  to  excel  the  great  cat- 
aract of  Niagara  in  many  respects.  From  this  place  the  party 
journeyed  to  the  South  Park. 

There  are  many  of  these  parks  in  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
being  more  particularly  found  in  the  great  mountain  centre  of 
Colorado.  They  are  in  many  respects  not  unlike  the  great 
parks  of  civilization;  but  in  other  particulars  nature  has 
excelled  art.  Tliey  are  bea\itiful  beyond  description.  Many 
of  them  are  small,  suitable  for  small  excursion  parties,  but 
three  or  four  of  them  are  very  large — equal  in  territory  and 
extent  to  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  These  are  the  North 
Park,  Middle  Park,  South  Park,  and  San  Luis  Park.  Here, 
upon  the  green,  well -watered  bosom  of  these  delightful  gar- 
dens, the  traveler  will  find  a  great  abundance  of  deer,  antelope, 
and  elk,  and  along  the  grassy  borders  of  the  running  brooks 
cue  may  see  plenty  of  otter  and  beaver.  It  was  in  these 
delightful  spots  where  Kit  Carson  spent  a  short  season  as  a 
hunter. 

But  Kit  was  a  roving  mortal,  and  as  we  have  many  iraport- 

26  (885) 


4 


HbH 


ADVKNTirMKIi  09    ruKMONT    AND   KIT   UAKMiN: 


ant  M*nn<>i«  in  Ltnli^r  wiirfuro  yi>t  to  rvcord,  it  will  Ih«  iiii|)OiiMll)lt 
tu  tollow  liiiii  ill  ili'tuil. 

Not  iiiiiiiy  iiioiitlirt  iiftur  hill  viNit  to  tliu  iMtuiiticN  of  tlio  pnrkii 
wu   Ituir    the    report  of  liiii    iinurriiiK  ritlu   on  tint  Imnkn  of 
tliu    ArkiitiiiiiH    riv«>r.       At   thin    pliicu    liu  Hp«>iit   u   comfitrt- 
hMo  winter  with  liiii  coin|>iiiiion  hiinturit.     In  thu  month  of 
Juniiury,  howovor,  thvrii  wiiit  troiihUt  in   the  euinp.     A  purtjr 
of  Hfty  Crow  IiidiiinM  '*  iiindo  an  unfriundly  viHit  to  thoir  ciuiip 
on  onu  very  diirk  nif(ht,'*  and  iiucci!etl(><l  in  Htealirif(  iiiin'  >»t' 
their  liomeM.     The  nun  had  not  fully  riH«>n  on  the  following; 
morning  when  the  adventuroiiH  Kit  wan  tlyitif^  throtif^h  tlio 
foreHt,  mounted  on  liiii  favorite  steed,  followed  hy  twelve  of  IiIh 
companioiiH,     They  rode  on  hour  after  hour,  and  ni^ht  net  in 
with  no  Hij(nii  of  the  enemy.     At  length  thoy  liehl  a  (.'ouncil, 
and  reHolved  to  eiKiiiinp  for  the  ni^ht,  intondiiif^  to  purHiie  tho 
trail  on  the  following  morning.     Selecting  a  tempting  grovo 
not  far  in  advance,  they  rode  forward  to  rcMt  for  the  night;  l>iit 
they  had  not  proceeded  a  hundred  paccD  when  wreatliH  of  curl- 
ing Rnioke  hroke  upon  their  view.     Thoy  were  upon  theein'iny! 
Halting,  and  rtcanning  the  diHtanco,   thoy  observed  that  the 
numhers  of  the  IndiaiiH  greatly  exceeded  thoir  own.     \k'\i\f^ 
Btill  unohrtcrvod,  they  concluded  to  settle  quietly  down  until 
the  darknoMS  closed  in.     '*  Then,"  says  Kit,  "  wo  will  Hurprirto 
them.*'     All  agreed.     I^ut  it  was  also  decided  to  change  tliuir 
situation.      They  desired  to  rush  ujion  the  enemy  from  the 
direction  in  which  the  savages  wore  traveling,  and  for  thi»  pur- 
pose they  took  a  circuitous  route  around  tho  enemy's  catiip. 
Approaching  from  tho  opposite  direction,  tho  hold  frontiersmen 
gained  a  littlo  ominenee,  from  which  thoy  had  a  full  view  of 
tho  Indian  camp.     And  now  let  us  look  in  upon  tho  suvuj^os 
with  them.     The  stolon  horses  were  secured  to  some  trees  at  a 
littlo  distance   to  ono   side,  while  in  tho  camp,  the  savugcs, 
decorated  in  the  gaudy  finery  of  their  peculiar  dress,  were 
dancing  merrily  in  honor  of  thoir  successful  robbery.    Every 
one  who  is  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the  Crow  Indians 
knows  that  they  loved  to  steal  horses  second  only  to  taking  the 
Bcalp  of  an  enemy.     The  night  was  cold,  and  the  mountaineera 
stood  a  little  way  off,  shivering  from  the  weather,  and  half 


ON,   TIIK    IWINDKN    WAMt  'OT  TWO   (IKNrtrKini. 


887 


iinpoMUiU 

)f  the  piirk* 

i<i  hunkit  of 

n   cDintort- 

u  month  of 

\u     \  p'lrty 
()  their  ramp 
[in(?  nt""'  "f 
hi)  following 
through  tho 
twelve  of  hi» 
night  net  in 
uhl  a  council, 
to  pnrrtui'  the 
inptinjit  grovo 
:ho  night;  hut 
rciithrt  t)t'  curi- 
am the  otHMuy! 
srveil  thiit  the 
own.     l^'i»K 
ly  down  until 
a  will  tturpriso 
)  change  their 
eniy  i'rom  the 
id  for  this  j.ur- 
pneiny'8  camp. 
_  t'rontierKiuon 
a  full  view  of 
,n  tho  fiavaj^s 
lotno  trees  at  a 
^,  the  savagcB, 
|ar  drcBB,  were 
.bhery.    Every 
Crow  Indians 
ly  to  taking  the 
e  mountaineers 
kther,  and  half 


trembling  with  mgtf;  hut  in  t\m  Iiulian  vump  largo  Hrot  woro 
burning  brightly,  and  uniind  theio  t^t<  iitty  hurM)  thieven  wvro 
culi'hrating  their  erinio.  Sc«  fhem  au  they  ^iiMuu  a  hundred 
ditleront  ikha}>eii,  any  one  of  which  'MiHUm  all  c]i>8criptiani  and 
now  liMten  to  tho  |H>alii  of  nierrintont  u*t  thuy  break  forth  on 
the  howling  wiiuU,  mingling  their  Htrangu  soiinfU  with  tho 
Toice  of  the  tem|)eitt.  The  picture  i»  one  of  wild  extravagaucUi 
hut  it  Ik  the  glory  of  the  true  Indian. 

Kit('arMon  probably  hxtked  tiriit  At  tho  horspfl,  and  then  at 
the  enemy.  The  former  he  niuit  secure;  the  latter  he  muitt 
puniith.  Hut  he  wan  m  cautioUM  an  he  wan  bravo,  but  ho  was 
bmvf!  Although  at  the  head  of  only  twelve  men,  he  wot 
aching  to  attack  Hfty  Indian  warriom,  who  had  already  erected 
two  temporary  fortM  for  their  dofenno.  Tho  angry  mountain^ 
ccrH  drew  back  u  littlo  and  counRellcd  together.  Each  Itad 
lomething  to  propose,  to  all  of  which  our  hero  liittencd  calmly. 
When  they  had  Hnished,  he  said,  "  Lot  them  have  their  fun 
out.  Wo  must  surprise  tiieui  aftor  thoy  have  fallen  asleep." 
This  was  readily  agreed  to,  and,  after  hours  of  patient  waiting, 
tho  festivities  ended,  and  tho  Indians  rolled  up  in  their  blan< 
ketri,  laid  down,  and  were  soon  fast  asleop.  The  first  movement 
wan  to  secure  the  horses,  which  thoy  cfi'ectcd  without  disturb- 
ing the  sleeping  Indians,  'i  hcso  wore  sent  back  in  chargo  of 
three  men  to  where  the  other  horses  had  been  secured.  The 
other  nine  remained  to  punish  fifty  warriors,  and  thoy  per- 
formed  their  task  well. 

Before  advancing  toward  tho  enemy  a  consultation  was  held, 
in  which  all  but  throe  of  tho  nine  advocated  a  peaceful  retreat. 
Thoy  pletided  ineciuality  of  numbers,  and  other  apparent 
obstacles,  but  Kit  was  not  to  bo  ])er8uaded,  and  the  bravo  mon 
at  last  agreed  to  punish  the  thieves.  As  they  advanced  cau- 
tiously to  where  tho  Indians  wore  sleeping,  ten  or  twelve  of 
tlietn  were  aroused,  and  springing  to  their  foot,  thoy  wero 
singled  out,  and  in  quick  snccession  nine  of  them  fell  back 
upon  their  blankote,  each  mountaineer  liaving  killed  his  man. 
Tlie  Indians  at  onco  retrmted  within  the  strongest  fort,  and 
opened  a  hot  fire  upon  the  invaders,  but  as  the  latter  wero 
Becurely  crouched  behind  trees,  the  savages  occompIiBhcd  noth- 


888 


ADVENTURRS  OF  FREMONT   ANH   KIT  OARflON: 


ing.  At  length  they  became  bold,  and  rushing  out  of  the  fort 
they  made  a  charge  upon  their  enemies,  but  in  this  attempt 
five  more  of  their  number  fell.  They  again  retreated,  but  in  a 
short  time  made  another  sortie,  in  which  they  lost  as  many 
more,  and  succeeded  in  slightly  wounding  three  whites.  But 
the  savages  pushed  forward  to  the  attacP  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  mountaineers  were  compelled  to  retreat,  from  tree  to  tree. 
They,  however,  availed  themselves  of  every  opportunity  to 
shoot  down  the  enemy,  and  in  a  short  time  the  number  of  the 
Indians  was  reduced  to  about  twice  that  of  their  own.  By 
this  time  the  three  men  who  had  been  sent  back  with  the 
horses  came  forward  and  assisted  in  the  contest.  Seeing  tliis 
reinforcement,  which  proved  fatal  to  three  of  the  savages  (for 
the  new  participants  were  not  satisfied  until  each  had  shot 
down  a  savage),  the  Indians  retreated,  leaving  the  brave  hunters 
in  possession  of  the  field.  Being  now  satisfied  with  the  pun- 
ishment which  they  had  administered  to  the  savages,  they 
returned,  reacliing  the  main  camp  in  safety. 

We  shall  next  see  Kit  Carson  in  council  with  the  Indians. 
In  the  winter  of  1832-3  a  party  of  trappers,  among  whom  he 
was  chief,  was  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  Big  Snake  river, 
where  they  established  winter  quarters.  On  one  dark  night  a 
party  of  Blackfeet  Indians  succeeded  in  stealing  eighteen  of 
the  horses.  On  the  following  morning  Carson  pursued  them 
at  the  head  of  eleven  men.  After  riding  fifty  miles  he  wiine 
up  with  the  thieves,  when  a  few  shots  were  exchanged,  the  sav- 
ages sent  out  a  man  who  said  that  the  party  desired  to  hold  a 
council  with  the  whites;  that  they  were  not  aware  of  liaving 
stolen  horses  from  them,  believing  that  those  which  they  had 
in  their  possession  had  belonged  to  the  Snake  Indians.  Car- 
son consented,  and  both  parties  laid  down  their  arms  and 
advanced.  Speeches  were  now  in  order.  The  Blackfeet  pre- 
ceded the  whites,  but  their  speeches  were  meaningless.  But  it 
was  now  Carson's  turn  to  be  heard,  and  he  spoke  to  the  point. 
He  said  that  they  would  not  listen  to  propositions  of  peace 
until  their  property  was  returned.  The  Indians  did  not  intend 
to  return  the  property,  and  hearing  the  demand  several  times 
repeated,  they  gave  the  hunters  to  understand  that  they  would 


OR,   THE   BOKDEK  WARS  OF  TWO   0ENTUKIB8. 


889 


:)f  the  fort 
B  attempt 
d,  but  in  a 
t  aa  many 
lites.    But 
V  moments 
roe  to  tree. 
)rtunity  to 
liber  of  the 
r  own.    By 
ik  with  the 
Seeing  this 
Bavages  (for 
ch  had  shot 
rave  hunters 
ith  the  pun- 
avages,  they 


not  yield.  They  began  to  boast  of  their  numbers  and  strength, 
and  seemed  to  be  ready  for  the  tight.  Carson  now  shouted  "  to 
your  armsl"  and  in  a  moment  the  hunters  were  leaping  over 
the  \meven  ground  towards  their  ritles.  The  Indians  were 
doing  the  same  with  equal  earnestness.  The  fight  was  renewed. 
Tlie  bullets  flew  thick  around  the  heads  of  the  trappers,  and  in 
a  moment  more  Kit  Carson  fell  upon  the  ground  apparently 
lifeless.  His  companions  beheld  this  lamentable  event,  but 
they  dare  not  turn  to  his  relief.  The  fight  was  too  hot,  and  all 
their  attention  was  required  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy.  At 
length  the  firing  ceased,  and  the  hunters  drew  back  retiring  with 
their  fallen  comrade  to  the  camp,  leaving  the  Indians  in  pos- 
session of  the  horses.  All  were  now  anxious  as  to  the  fate  of 
tlie  wounded  leader.  His  wound  bled  profusely,  and  as  the 
bk)od  gushed  out  it  froze  upon  the  wound.  His  sufferings 
were  great,  but  after  patient  endurance  he  recovered.  A  ball 
from  an  Indian  musket  had  pierced  his  left  shoulder. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  event  in  which  Carson  was  wounded. 
It  was  not  enough  that  the  trappers  had  killed  several  Indian 
warriors  and  escaped  \«rith  only  one  wounded,  but  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  it  was  resolved  to  send  another  expedition  upon 
their  trail.  This  party  consisted  of  thirty,  but,  after  scouring 
the  woods  for  nearly  a  hundred  miles  they  were  compelled  to 
return  without  discovering  the  enemy. 

We  next  find  Carson  in  a  duel.  The  trappers  had  congre- 
gated at  the  summer  quarters  and  were  indulging  in  all  kinds 
of  sport.  Among  their  number  was  one  Capt.  Shunan,  a 
boasting  fellow,  who  was  continually  picking  a  quarrel  with  all 
who  came  in  his  way.  He  continued  this  to  the  disgust  of  the 
whole,  and  was  at  length  despised  by  nearly  two-thirds  of  tlie 
hniiters.  One  day  after  having  whipped  two  of  his  comrades 
in  a  list-fight,  he  happened  in  Carson's  way,  and,  as  with  all,  he 
treated  him  in  a  manner  of  great  discourtesy.  He  was  proba- 
bly not  fully  aware  of  the  man's  courage  and  ability,  for  in 
general  appearance  Carson  was  not  calculated  to  inspire  one 
with  a  high  estimation  of  his  physical  powers.  Shunan  was  a 
very  powerful  man,  and  one  of  the  roughest  of  the  liocky  Moun- 
tain trappers. 


890 


ADVENTURES  OF  FREMONT  AND  KIT  OARSON: 


I 

I 


i  '1  ..  ,^1^3 


As  soon  as  the  insulting  words  had  been  uttered,  Kit  Carson 
stepped  up  to  Shunan  and  said :  "  Shunan,  before  you  stands 
the  humblest  specimen  of  an  American  citizen  in  this  bravo 
band  of  trappers,  among  whom  there  are,  to  my  certain  knowl- 
edge, men  who  could  easily  chastise  you,  but  being  peaceably 
disposed,  they  keep  away  from  you.  At  any  rate.  I  assume 
the  responsibility  of  ordering  you  to  discontinue  your  threats, 
or  I  shall  kill  you." 

Shunan  made  no  reply,  but  wheeling  around  he  strode  off 
towards  his  tent  filled  with  rage,  and  fully  resolved  on  revenge. 
Ho  spoke  to  no  one,  but  his  purpose  was  plain  to  the  expe- 
rienced moiintaineers.  Oarson  also  turned  away  and  walked 
rapidly  to  his  own  tent.  "A  duel!  "  now  broke  out  upon  the 
air  from  more  than  fifty  voices,  and  all  gathered  round  to  see 
the  contest.  In  a  moment  all  eyes  were  turned  toward  Carsoi 
who  was  approaching  on  his  matchless  steed  in  full  gallop,  with 
a  single-barrel  dragoon  pistol  in  his  right  hand.  Plunging 
along  on  this  broad  prairie  he  was  a  most  thrilling  picture. 
But  he  had  not  more  than  fully  appeared  before  the  attention 
of  the  crowd  was  divided.  Shunan  was  approaching  on  his 
horse  from  the  opposite  direction  with  his  rifle  in  his  hand. 
The  brave  mountaineers  now  rode  rapidly  towards  each  other, 
and  in  a  moment  they  were  face  to  face.  The  report  of  Sim- 
nan's  rifle,  closely  followed  that  of  Carson's  pistol.  Instantly 
Shunan's  rifle  fell  to  the  ground,  his  fore  arm  having  been 
shattered  by  a  ball.  The  contents  of  his  own  weapon  inflicted 
a  slight  scalp  wound  upon  Carson.    Thus  ended  the  duel. 


CHAPTER    LI. 


Sketch  OF  Kit  Carbon  Continued  — His  Adventures  — He  Aoain 
Joins  Fremont's  Expedition — Descu'ption  op  Fremont's  Second 
Expedition  —  Its  Adventures. 

Wb  will  not  attempt  to  follow  Carson  through  all  the  details 
of  his  life.  It  would  be  only  repeating  over  and  over  what  we 
have  already  said;  for,  in  the  life  of  the  mountaineer  we  have 
only  a  series  of  hardships,  interwoven  with  adventures,  escape, 
battle,  victory  and  defeat.  After  Carson  had  endured  sixteen 
years  of  this  life,  ho  returned  to  Missouri,  and,  as  we  have  seen, 
joined  Colonel  Fremont  in  1842,  as  guide  to  the  expedition. 
Of  his  adventures  with  Fremont,  we  have  already  had  a  full 
account.  Let  us  now  notice  the  principal  characteristics  of 
his  life  in  the  interim  between  Fremont's  expeditions. 

In  February,  1843,  his  Indian  wife  having  long  since  died, 
Carson  married  a  Mexican  woman  named  Senora  Jarimilla. 
She  was  quite  beautiful,  and  was  admired  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  for  her  many  virtues.  By  this  wife  Carson  had  three 
children. 

In  the  following  spring  he  was  engaged  as  guide  and  hunter 
for  a  train  of  wagons,  belonging  to  Bent's  Fort.  This  train 
was  bound  for  the  United  States.  When  they  had  reached 
Walnut  Creek,  Carson  came  upon  the  encampment  of  Captain 
Cook,  of  the  United  States  army.  Cook  was  in  command  of 
four  companies  of  dragoons,  and  was  acting  as  a  guard  to  a 
large  train  of  wagons  belonging  to  the  governor  of  New  Mex- 
ico, and  bound  for  that  territory.  The  Mexicans  had  anticipated 
an  attack  from  a  strong  band  of  Texans,  who  were  known  to 
be  hostile  to  the  former  on  account  of  difficulties  which  had 
previously  taken  place.  However,  Capt.  Cook's  orders  were  to 
accompany  the  train  only  to  the  boundary  line  between  the 

(891) 


892 


AOVENTUREfl  OF   FRKMOMT   AND  KIT  OARSON! 


United  States  and  New  Mexico,  which,  at  this  time,  was  at 
the  fording  place  of  the  Arkansas  river.  The  Mexicans  being 
fearful  lest  they  should  be  attacked  by  the  Texans,  on  their 
own  territory,  engaged  Kit  Oarson  to  return  to  New  Mexico 
with  all  dispatch,  with  a  message  to  the  governor,  asking  him 
to  send  out  an  expedition  to  guard  his  train.  Carson,  in  tho 
execution  of  this  task,  was  compelled  to  encounter  many  hos- 
tile Indians,  but  he  managed  to  evade  them  and  reached  his 
destination  in  safety.  When  Carson  reached  Taos,  he  learned 
that  a  small  detachment  had  already  been  sent  in  search  of  his 
caravan,  and  that  the  governor  himself,  with  a  large  force,  was 
about  to  follow.  The  lirst  band  encountered  the  Texans  before 
they  came  up  with  the  train,  and  were  all  massacred  but  one. 
It  is  said  that  ninety-nine  Mexicans  fell  in  this  contest.  The 
survivor  returned  with  all  speed  towards  Taos,  but  came  upon 
the  governor's  expedition,  after  a  few  day's  travel,  to  which  he 
reported  the  disaster.  This  news  so  alarmed  the  governor  and 
his  men,  that  they  at  once  returned,  leaving  the  caravan,  as 
they  thought,  to  the  mercy  of  the  furious  Texans. 

Carson  having  performed  his  duty  well,  returned  to  Bent's 
Fort,  where  he  learned  thati  Capt.  Cook  had  come  upon  the 
hostile  Texans  in  the  United  States  Territory,  and  had  dis- 
armed them.  While  at  this  place  Carson  learned  that  Colonel 
Fremont  had  passed  that  post  a  few  days  before  his  arrival,  on 
a  second  expedition.  The  mountaineer  v/asted  no  time  in  pur- 
suing his  old  companion. 

Let  us  now  go  back  to  the  commencement  of  Fremont's 
journey.  In  pursuance  of  instructions  from  Col.  J.  J.  Abert, 
chief  of  the  corps  of  Topographical  Engineers,  to  connect  his 
former  surveys  of  1842  with  those  of  Wilkes,  on  the  coast  of 
the  Pacific  ocean,  so  as  to  give  a  connected  survey  of  the 
middle  of  the  continent,  Fremont  proceeded  to  the  Western 
frontier  early  in  the  spring  of  1843,  arriving  at  the  town  of 
Kansas,  in  Missouri,  on  the  seventeenth  of  May,  wliere  he 
remained  about  two  weeks  in  making  the  necessary  prepara- 
tions. The  party  which  he  collected  for  the  expedition 
consisted  of  Creoles,  Canadian  French  and  Americans,  amount- 
ing in  all  to  thirty-nine  men,  among  whom  were  several  who 


OR,  THE  BORDER   WAR8  OF  TWO  OENTDRIEB. 


89a 


he  caravan,  as 


accompanied  him  on  the  former  expedition.  Mr.  Thomas 
Fitzpatrick,  a  famous  mountaineer,  was  engaged  as  guide. 
Among  the  members  c*'  the  party  were  two  Delaware  Indians, 
who  liad  been  employed  to  accompany  the  expedition  as 
hunters.  The  famous  Maxwell,  who  had  been  Fremont's 
favorite  hunter  on  the  previous  journey,  was  also  engaged  in 
the  same  capacity  for  the  present  expedition. 

The  party  was  armed  with  Hall's  carbines,  which,  witv 
a  brass  twelve  pound  howitzer,  had  been  furniehed  by  the 
United  States  government.  Three  men  were  detailed  for  the 
management  of  this  piece,  under  the  charge  of  Louis  Zindel,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  had  been  nineteen  years  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  of  artillery  in  the  Prussian  army,  and  regularly 
instructed  in  the  duties  of  his  profession.  The  camp  equipage 
and  provisions  were  transported  in  twelve  carts,  drawn  each  by 
two  mules;  and  a  light  covered  wagon,  mounted  on  good 
springs,  had  been  provided  for  the  safer  carriage  of  the  instru- 
ments. 

To  make  the  exploration  as  useful  as  possible,  Fremont 
determined,  in  conformity  to  genera!  instructions,  to  vary  the 
route  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  from  that  followed  in  the  year 
1842.  The  route  then  was  up  the  valley  of  the  Great  Platte 
river  to  the  South  Pass,  in  north  latitude  42°;  the  route  now 
determined  on  was  up  the  valley  of  the  Kansas  river,  and  to 
the  head  of  the  Arkansas,  and  to  some  pass  in  the  mountains, 
if  any  could  be  found,  at  the  sources  of  that  river.  By  making 
this  deviation  from  the  former  route,  the  problem  of  a  new 
road  to  Oregon  and  California,  in  a  climate  more  genial,  might 
be  solved;  and  a  better  knowledge  obtained  of  an  important 
river,  and  the  country  it  drained,  while  the  great  object  of  the 
expedition  would  find  its  point  of  commencement  at  the  ter- 
mination of  the  former,  which  was  at  that  great  gate  in  the 
ridge  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  called  the  South  Pass,  and  on 
tlie  lofty  peak  of  the  mountain  which  overlooks  it,  deemed  the 
highest  peak  in  the  ridge,  and  from  the  opposite  sides  of  which 
four  great  rivers  take  their  rise,  and  flow  to  the  Pacific  or  the 
Mississippi.  Various  obstacles  delayed  their  departure  until 
the  morning  of  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  when  they  commenced 


894 


ADVKNTURRS  OF   FREMONT   AND  KIT  OAKSON: 


their  long  voyage;  and  at  the  close  of  a  day,  rendered  diMugroe. 
ably  cold  by  incoasaut  rain,  encamped  about  four  miles  beyond 
the  frontier,  on  the  verge  of  the  great  prairies. 

Resuming  their  journey  on  the  thirty-lirst,  after  the  delay  of 
a  day  to  complete  their  equipment  and  furnish  themselves  with 
some  of  the  comforts  of  civilized  life,  they  encamped  in  the  even- 
ing at  Elm  Grove,  in  company  with  several  emigrant  wagons, 
constituting  a  party  which  was  proceeding  to  Upper  California, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Childs,  of  Missouri.  The  wagons 
were  variously  freighted  with  goods,  furniture  and  farming 
utensils,  containing,  among  other  things,  an  entire  set  of 
machinery  for  a  mill,  which  Mr.  Childs  designed  erecting  on 
the  Sacramento  river.  The  expedition  was  joined  at  this 
point  by  Mr.  William  Gilpin,  of  Missouri,  who,  intending  this 
year  to  visit  the  settlements  in  Oregon,  was  invited  to  accom- 
pany Fremont. 

Leaving  the  fording  of  the  Kansas  river,  they  pursued  the 
usual  emigrant  route  to  the  mountains,  along  the  southern  side 
of  the  Kansas.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  sixth  of  June,  while 
busily  engaged  in  crossing  a  stream,  the  expedition  was  thrown 
into  confusion  by  the  sudden  arrival  of  Maxwell,  who  entered 
the  camp  at  full  speed,  at  the  head  of  a  war  party  of  Osages, 
with  gay  red  blankets,  and  heads  shaved  to  the  scalp-lock. 
They  had  run  him  a  distance  of  about  nine  miles,  from  a  creek 
on  which  Fremont  had  encamped  the  day  previous,  and  to 
which  Maxwell  had  returned  in  search  of  a  run-away  horse. 
The  Osages  were,  no  doubt,  ignorant  of  the  strength  of  the 
party,  for  they  charged  into  the  camp,  and  drove  off  a  number 
of  the  best  horses.  They  were  soon  overtaken,  and  the  animals 
recovered.  In  speaking  of  the  progress  of  the  journey  from 
this  point,  Fremont  says:  "  We  had  been  gradually  and  regu- 
larly ascending  in  our  progress  westward,  and  on  tho  evening 
of  the  fourteenth,  when  we  encamped  on  a  l''-i^^  rveek  in  the 
v«lley  of  the  Republican,  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  miles  by 
our  traveling  road  from  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas,  we  were  at 
an  elevation  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty  feet. 
"That  part  of  the  river  where  we  were  now  encamped  is  called 
hj  the  Indians  the  Big  Timber.    Hitherto  our  route  had  been 


OB,   THE   BORDER    WARH   OK   TWO   (^ENTITRIKH. 


895 


laboriouB  and  extremely  slow,  the  nnnsually  wet  spring  and 
constant  rain  having  bo  saturated  the  whole  country  that  it 
was  necessary  to  bridge  every  water  course,  and  for  days  together 
our  usual  march  averaged  only  five  or  six  miles.  Finding  that 
at  such  a  rate  of  travel  it  would  bo  impossible  to  comply  with 
your  instructions,  I  determined  at  this  place  to  divide  the  party, 
and,  leaving  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  with  twenty-five  jnen  in  charge 
of  the  provisions  and  heavier  baggage  of  the  camp,  to  proceed 
myself  in  advance,  with  a  light  party  of  fifteen  men,  taking 
witii  me  the  howitzer  and  the  light  wagon  which  carried  the 
instruments." 

Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  sixteenth  of  June,  the 
parties  separated.  On  the  nineteenth  the  advanced  party 
crossed  the  Pawnee  road  to  the  Arkansas,  and  after  a  little 
travel  came  into  the  bufiklo  herds.  Here,  also,  prairie  dogs 
were  seen  in  great  abundance.  Their  elevation  was  now^ 
nineteen  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  On  the 
twenty-third  of  June  this  party  explored  one  of  the  main 
branches  of  the  Republican  river,  to  which  they  gave  the  name 
of  Prairie  Dog  River.  Their  route  on  the  twenty-fifth  lay  over 
high,  smooth  ridges,  three  thousand  one  hundred  feet  above  the 
sea,  bufiklo  in  great  numbers  absolutely  covering  the  face  of 
the  country. 

They  journeyed  on  Until  the  first  of  July,  when,  traveling 
along  the  valley  of  the  south  fork  of  the  Platte,  four  thousand 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  they  caught  a  glimpse  of  Long's 
Peak  and  the  neighboring  mountains,  which  stood  out  into 
the  sky,  grand,  and  luminously  white,  covered  to  their  bases 
with  glittering  snow. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third  of  July  the  expedition  was 
journeying  along  the  partially  overflowed  bottoms  of  the  Platte, 
where  their  passage  stirred  up  swarms  of  mosquitoes,  and 
where  they  came  unexpectedly  upon  an  Indian,  who  was 
perched  on  a  bluff,  curiously  watching  the  movements  of  Fre- 
mont's caravan.  He  belonged  to  a  village  of  the  Sioux,  who 
had  lost  all  their  animals  in  the  severity  of  the  preceding 
winter,  and  were  now  on  their  way  up  the  Bijou  fork  to  beg 
horses  from  the  Arapahoes,  who  were  hunting  bufi'alo  at  the 


80H 


ADVKNTUKB8  OF  FREMONT  AND  KIT  CAKWlNt 


heml  of  that  river.  iSeveral  came  into  Fremont'H  cHm[»  at 
noon,  and,  as  they  were  hungry,  an  usual,  they  were  provided 
with  buffalo  meat,  of  which  the  hunters  had  brought  an 
abundant  supply. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July  the  party  arrived  at  Bent's  Fort, 
where  the  proprietors  had  prepared  a  sumptuous  feast  in  honor 
of  the  day.  At  this  place  Fremont  dispatched  Maxwell  to 
Taos  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  mules  and  provisions,  while 
the  expedition  continued  its  course.  On  the  seventh  of  July 
Fremont  reached  the  Arapaho  villages,  which  he  found 
I'ticamped  in  a  beautiful  bottom,  and  consisting  of  over  one 
hundred  and  sixty  lodges.  The  village  appeared  extremely 
populous,  with  a  great  number  of  children.  The  chiefs  wero 
congregated  together  for  the  purpose  of  paying  respect  to  the 
strangers,  which  they  did  by  throwing  their  arms  around  tlnir 
'  necks  and  embracing  them.  Fremont  was  able  to  make  thetn 
only  a  slight  present,  accounting  for  the  poverty  of  the  gift  by 
explaining  that  his  goods  had  been  left  with  the  heavy  wagons 
in  charge  of  Mr.  Fitzpatrick,  whom  they  knew  by  the  name 
of  the  Broken  Hand.  Though  disappointed  in  obtaining  the 
presents  which  had  been  evidently  expected,  they  behaved  very 
courteously,  and,  after  a  little  conversation,  Fremont  left  them, 
and  continued  on  up  the  river.  They  surprised  a  grizzly  bear 
sauntering  along  the  river;  which,  raising  himself  upon  his 
hind  legs,  took  a  deliberate  survey  of  the  party,  that  did  not 
appear  very  satisfactory  to  him,  and  he  scrambled  into  the  river 
and  swam  to  the  opposite  side. 

During  the  eighth  of  July,  continuing  up  the  Platte,  they 
could  see,  on  their  right,  and  apparently  very  near  —but  really 
eight  miles  from  them — and  two  or  three  thousand  feet  up  the 
valley  in  which  they  were  traveling,  the  snow  clad  peaks  of  tlie 
Kocky  Monn  tains. 

After  spending  many  days  in  exploring  that  country,  Fremont 
returned  to  St.  Train's  Fort,  reaching  it  on  the  twenty-third 
of  July.  Here  they  met  with  Mr.  Fitzpatrick's  party,  which 
had  been  left  in  charge  of  the  heavy  wagons.  He  also  met 
Kit  Carson  at  this  place,  who  had  brought  with  him  ten  good 
mules  and  the  necessary  pack  saddles.  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  had 
been  at  this  place  over  a  week,  during  which  time  his  men  had 


OK,  THE   UDRDKB    WARS  Of  TWO   OKNTURtUII. 


897 


been  occupied  in  refitting  the  camp,  and  the  repose  had  l)een 
very  beneficial  tu  his  aiiiniaU,  which  were  now  in  a  tolerably 
gtxxl  condition. 

Fremont,  however,  had  been  unable  to  obtain  any  cf*rtain 
intorination  in  regard  to  the  character  of  the  passes  in  this 
portion  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  range.  They  had  always  been 
repreHontod  as  impracticable  for  carriages,  and  as  extremely 
dangerous.  Of  their  course  of  operations  in  this  emergency, 
Fremont  says:  "  Having  determined  to  try  the  passage  by  a 
pH8t)  through  a  spur  of  the  mountains  made  by  the  €iiohe-h' 
la-Poudre  river,  which  rises  in  tlie  high  bed  of  the  mountains 
around  Long's  Peak,  I  thought  it  advisable  to  avoid  any  encum- 
brance which  would  occasion  detention,  and  accordingly  again 
eeparated  the  party  into  two  divisions— one  of  which,  under 
the  command  of  Mr.  Fitzpatrick,  was  directed  to  cross  the 
plains  to  the  mouth  of  Laramie  river,  and,  continuing  thence 
its  route  along  the  usual  emigrant  road,  meet  me  at  Fort  Hall, 
a  post  belonging  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  situated 
on  Snake  river,  as  it  is  commonly  called  in  the  Oregon  Terri- 
tory, although  better  know  i  to  us  as  Lewis'  fork  of  the 
Columbia." 

Carson  was  included  in  the  party  which  Fremont  commanded 
in  person.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty-sixth  of  July,  all 
the  arrangements  had  been  completed,  and  the  parties  resumed 
their  respective  routes. 

Fremont's  party  proceeded  westward,  and  finding  the  C^che- 
a-la-Poudre  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-eighth,  entered  the 
Black  Hills.  Passing  over  a  beautiful  bottom  in  the  afternoon, 
they  reached  a  place  where  the  river  was  shut  up  in  the  hills; 
and,  ascending  a  ravine,  made  a  laborious  and  very  difficult 
passage  around  a  gap,  striking  the  river  again  in  the  evening. 
On  the  following  day  they  were  compelled,  by  the  nature  of 
tlie  f»round,  to  cross  the  river  eight  or  nine  times,  at  difficult, 
deep  and  rocky  fords,  the  stream  running  with  great  force, 
swollen  by  the  rains — a  true  mountain  torrent,  only  forty  or 
fifty  feet  wide.  It  was  a  mountain  valley  of  the  narrowest 
kind — almost  a  chasm;  and  the  scenery  very  wild  and  beauti- 
fiil.     Towering    mountains   rose    round  about;    their  sides 


898 


AiiviurruKUB  or  fkicmomt  and  nrr  (iakh<»n: 


somotiinoit  durk  with  foroiiU  of  pinu,  nrid  item oti men  with 
\o(ty  prucipicoH,  wa«itod  by  tho  river;  whilo  below,  its  if  timy 
iudoinniHud  theiiiMilvos  in  luxiirianco  for  tho  Hcanty  gpnco,  tho 
gruon  rivor  bottom  was  covurod  with  a  wildorncst)  of  tlowcra, 
their  tali  Hpikuo  Koinetiinofl  riHin|(  above  tlio  triivclvr'H  liuad.<  iis 
thoy  ri)du  aiiion^  thcin.  A  profusion  of  blossoinH,  on  a  white 
flowering  vine,  which  wa«  abundant  along  tho  rivor,  contrtiHtod 
handHoinoly  with  tho  green  foliage  of  the  trees.  The  motiiituin 
appeared  to  be  composed  of  a  greenish  gray  and  red  granito, 
which  in  some  places  appeared  to  bo  in  a  state  of  deeonipoHJ. 
tion,  making  a  red  soil.  Tho  stream  was  wooded  with  cotton. 
wood,  box  elder  and  cherry,  with  current  and  wcrviceborry 
bushes.  After  a  somewhat  lal>oriou8  day,  during  which  it  hud 
rained  incessantly,  they  encatnped  near  the  end  of  the  ])a8rt  at 
tho  mouth  of  a  small  creek,  in  sight  of  tho  grent  Lurui>iio 
plains.  It  continued  to  rain  heavily,  and  at  evening  tho  moun- 
tains were  hid  in  mists;  but  there  was  no  lack  of  wood,  mid 
tho  large  tires  which  they  made  to  dry  their  clothes  were  very 
comfortable;  and  at  night  the  huntcrn  came  in  with  a  tino  deer. 

On  the  morning  of  the  thirtieth,  i?ijy  crossed  the  (Jaclie-a- 
la-Poudro  river  for  the  last  time,  and  entering  a  smooth 
country,  they  traveled  along  a  kind  of  vallon^  bounded  on  the 
right  by  red  buttes  and  precipices,  while  to  tho  left  a  hi^'h 
rolling  country  extended  to  a  range  of  the  Black  Hills,  beyond 
which  rose  tho  great  mountains  around  Long's  Peak.  By  the 
great  quantity  of  snow  visible  among  them,  it  had  probiil)ly 
snowed  heavily  thore  the  previous  day,  while  it  had  rained  on 
them  in  the  valley. 

After  long  and  tedious  travel,  the  party  reached  the  east 
side  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  when  Fremont  proceeded  to  explore 
its  borders,  and  many  of  its  islands.  From  this  point  the 
party  journeyed  to  Fort  Hall,  where  they  met  with  the  party 
under  Fitzpatrick.  After  resting  for  a  few  days,  the  expedi- 
tion was  again  divided,  Fremont  preceding  Fitzpatrick  with  a 
small  detachment,  and  journeying  in  the  direction  of  the 
Columbia  river.  On  reaching  the  river  Dallas,  the  party  halted, 
and  Fremont  proceeded  to  Vancouver's  Island,  where  he  pur- 
chaeed  provisions  necessary  for  the  immediate  future.    On  bis 


UK,   TIIK    IMIUDKK    WAKM   or   TWO   (iKN'rirKIRll. 


899 


roturn  to  tho  part^,  iiu  t'uund  Fitxputriok  had  arrived,  and  now 
tho  whole  ex|H!dition  moved  towanl  Klamath  I^alce,  in  Oregon. 
Att(>r  exploring  thitt  lake,  and  the  country  tor  Heveral  uiilet 
aruiitid,  the  expedition  started  tor  (>alit(>rnia,  by  tho  route  of 
tlio  mountainti.  On  reaching  this  range,  it  watt  found  to  ho 
covered  with  deep  snow,  and  tho  brave  udvonturerH  Hutfered 
indi'rieribable  hardHhipH  in  crosHing  tho  range,  (jol.  Fremont, 
ill  spunking  of  thoir  progress  on  the  sixth  of  January,  1844, 
says: 

"  Accoinpaniod  by  Mr.  Fitzpatrick,  I  sat  out  to-day  with  a 
reooiitioiteririg  party,  on  snow  shoes.  Wo  marched  all  in  single 
dlo,  tramping  the  snow  as  heavily  as  wo  could.  Crossing  tho 
upeii  banin,  in  a  march  of  about  ton  miles  wo  reached  tho  top 
of  one  of  tho  peaks,  to  the  letl  of  tho  pass  indicated  by  our 
guide.  Far  below  us,  dimmed  by  tho  distance,  was  a  largo, 
snowiess  valley,  bounded  cm  tho  western  side,  at  tho  distance 
of  a))out  a  hundred  miles,  by  a  low  range  of  mountains,  which 
CarHon  recognized  with  delight  as  the  mountains  bordering  tho 
coast.  'There,'  said  he,  'is  tho  littlo  mountain — it  is  fifteen 
years  ago  sitico  I  saw  it;  but  I  am  just  as  sure  as  if  I  had  soon 
it  yesterday.'  Betwoon  us,  then,  and  this  low  coast  range,  was 
tho  valley  of  tho  Sacramento;  and  no  one  who  had  not  accom- 
panied us  through  tho  incidents  of  our  life  for  tho  last  few 
months  could  realizo  the  delight  with  which  at  last  wo  looked 
down  upon  it.  At  the  distance  of  apparently  thirty  miles 
bcyund  us  were  distinguished  spots  of  prairie;  an<l  a  dark  line, 
whidi  could  be  traced  with  tho  glass,  was  imagined  to  bo  the 
course  of  tho  river;  but  wo  were  evidently  at  a  great  height 
above  the  valley,  and  between  us  and  tho  plains  extended  miles 
of  snowy  fields  and  broken  ridges  of  pine-covered  mountains. 
It  wiis  late  in  tho  day  when  we  turned  towards  the  camp;  and 
it  grew  rapidly  cold  as  it  drew  towards  night.  One  of  the  men 
became  fatigued,  and  his  feet  began  to  freeze,  and,  building  a 
tire  in  the  trunk  of  a  dry  old  cedar,  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  remained 
with  him  until  his  clothes  could  be  dried,  and  he  was  in  a  con- 
dition to  come  on.  After  a  day's  march  of  twenty  miles,  wo 
straggled  into  camp,  one  after  another,  at  nightfall;  the  greater 
number  excessively  fatigued,  only  two  of  the  party  having 


HHi 


Al>vK^mrKlOl  or  rKKMONT  am>  kit  dammon: 


«v«r  trnvultHl  on  miow  HixM^it  iM^furu.  All  ourcnrr^iuii  wtny  now 
dirnctotl  to  getting  our  miiinaU  iioroitM  tli»  xnow;  mul  it  wm 
Huppoumi  tliiit,  uttor  nil  thu  iHim^n^n  liii<l  \mm\  drnwii  with  the 
ilri^hi  ov«>r  tlin  tmil  wu  had  inndo,  it  would  \m  Huttl('it«ntl)f 
hard  to  honr  our  nnitnnlH.  At  Hi-vDnd  plnooM,  lM!tw(*(!M  tliiii 
point  and  th»  ridf^o,  w«  had  di»cov«rt>d  Honiu  gnnny  Bpott, 
whore  tho  wind  and  Hun  had  diHpcrH«d  thu  inow  from  tlio  MJdut 
of  tho  IdllH,  and  tlumo  weru  to  form  rcMtin^^  placet  to  MUpport 
the  animalfl  for  a  ni^ht  in  their  paMMuge  acroHH.  On  our  WHy 
arroHH,  wo  had  lot  on  tiro  Moveral  broken  ntumpit,  amd  dried 
treeM,  to  molt  hole*  in  tho  snow  for  tho  campti.  Itw  ^••ru'ml 
depth  wa«  five  foot;  but  wo  paftHed  over  placet)  wlu.*re  it  wm 
twenty  feet  de«'p,  an  shown  by  tho  treo».  With  one  |iHrty 
drawing  HleigliH  loaded  with  baggage,  I  advanced  to>-day  alxnit 
four  miles  along  the  trail,  and  oncam|)ed  at  the  tirst  grtuHy 
spot,  where  wo  ex|)eetod  to  bring  our  horses.  Mr.  Fit/.patrick, 
with  another  party,  remained  In'hind,  to  form  an  intermediate 
station  between  uh  and  the  animals." 

After  great  struggling,  tho  party  were,  on  thtf  twentieth  of 
February,  at  tho  foot  of  tho  laMt  rango,  having  the  valley  of 
the  Sacramento  before  them.  After  a  short  roHt,  they  took  up 
their  lino  of  march,  and  oti  tho  eiglith  of  Marcli  arrived  ut 
Sutter's  Fort,  tho  famous  spot  where  tho  first  (yaliforniii  gold 
was  afterwardH  discovered.  This  fort  bore  the  name  of  its 
proj)riotor,  who  received  Fremont  and  his  party  with  due  hos- 
pitality. 

Capt.  Sutter,  who  was  a  native  of  Missouri,  reached  California 
in  1888,  and  formed  the  iirst  settlement  in  tho  valley  of  the 
Sacramento,  on  a  large  grant  of  land  whiirh  lie  obtained  from 
tho  Mexican  government,  lie  had,  at  first,  some  trouble  with 
tho  Indians;  but,  by  the  occasional  exercise  of  well-timed 
aiithority,  lie  succeeded  in  converting  them  into  a  peaceable 
and  industrious  people.  Tlio  ditches  around  his  extensive 
wheat  fields;  tho  making  of  the  sun-dried  bricks,  of  which  his 
fort  was  constructed;  the  plowing,  harrowing  and  other  agri- 
cultural operations,  were  entirely  the  work  of  these  Indians,  for 
which  they  received  a  very  moderate  compensation — principally 
in  shirts,  blankets  and  other  articles  of  clothing.     In  the  same 


n: 


Ok,    IH>.    IliiHI'KM    WAMN   or    TWO  ITKNTI'MIRM. 


401 


iuit  WW  now 
;  kikI  it  WM 
wn  with  the 
n  nuttleiontly 

lM!tWt>«M    tliit 

ruin  tint  »'\i\o$ 

;ei  to  HUpport 

On  our  way 

pH,  att\<l  <lritHi 

,       Itn  JJI'IUTttl 

wh»ro  it  WM 
ith  one  jmrty 
i\  to-<lay  ttlntut 
t»o  <ir»t  gra.my 
Ir.  Fitzpatricic, 
u  intcrtneiUate 

,e  twentieth  of 
J  the  valley  of 
1,,  they  took  up 
irch  arrived  iit 
(^alitbrnia  Rold 
Hi  name  of  itB 
y  witii  due  ho8- 

ichecl  California 
lie  valley  of  the 
obtained  from 
,e  trouble  with 
of  well -timed 
Into  a  peaceiihle 
his   extensive 
:8,  of  which  his 
and  other  iigri- 
[lese  Indians,  for 
on— principally 
In  the  same 


tiiiiiiiii'r,  on  «)»plicHtioh  to  th«*  chief  of  »  villn^*,  ho  n'lidilj 
ohtiiiiiud  ft»  (.  Miv  Imi}'k  and  ^irinaN  he  hud  auy  uitn  for.  Thero 
wcntnt  thiM  tiwiu  RnuirilM'i'ufKJrlH  Ht  tht<  fort,  in  traiiiit)|^  for  a 
wiMtjt'ii  faifory;  hut  thi^y  were  n«»w  all  buitily  eii|(a^«<d  in  con- 
itriintly  wnU-riiif(  tlu*  ^ardetiit,  which  the  unfavorable  dryneHN  of 
tlu'  MMinoii  rcnden>d  nect^nHary.  A  few  yearn  lM«fi>re  Kreniont't 
vifit  in  1844,  the  nei^hlMtrin^  HuNHJan  cHtabliHhnicnt  of  Komi, 
ImIii^  aliN>nt  to  withdraw  from  the  country,  ncdd  t(»(!apt.  Hutter 
II  lur^(«  iiuml»t*r  of  8tm*k,  with  agricultural  and  other  HtoreN, 
with  a  tnimUvr  of  pieces  of  artillery  and  other  munltionH  of 
war;  for  tliene,  a  regular  yearly  payment  watt  made  in  ^rain. 
Tin'  f«»rt  waH  a  (piadran^ular  at/ofti<  Ktructure,  m«iiintin^  twelve 
picccH  of  artillery  (two  of  tlu*m  branH,^  and  capable  of  admit- 
ting a  ^arriHon  of  a  thouHand  men;  thiH,  in  1x44,  conHinted  of 
forty  IndiaUH,  in  uniform — one  of  whom  waH  always  found  on 
duty  at  the  ^ate.  The  whiteH  in  the  employment  of  (^apt. 
Hutter,  American,  French  and  (ieruum,  amoiintiHl,  in  this  year, 
p<>rlui|)H,  to  thirty  men.  The  inner  wall  waH  formed  into 
Imildin^H  compriHihf]^  the  common  qmuterH,  with  blackHmith 
and  other  workHliopi*;  the  dwelling  hoUHe,  with  a  hir^e  dintil- 
lerv  hoUBe,  and  other  buildingH,  occupied  more  the  centre  of 
tlu'  III"! 'a. 

The  tort  waK  built  upon  a  pond-like  ntream,  at  timeH  a  run- 
ning creek,  communicating  with  the  Uio  de  Ioh  Americanos, 
which  enters  the  Sacramento  about  two  miles  lu-low.  The 
latter  is  her©  a  noble  river,  about  three  hundred  yank  broad, 
deep  and  tranquil,  with  Heveral  fathoms  (»f  water  in  the  channel, 
and  its  bunks  continuouhly  timbered.  There  were  two  vessels 
Woiijifing  to  Capt.  Sutter  at  anchor  lu'ar  the  landing — one  a 
lurjje  two-nmsted  lighter,  and  the  other  a  schooner,  which  was 
shortly  to  proceed  on  a  voyage  to  Fort  Vancouver  for  a  cargo 
of  ptodn. 

Ikfore  leaving  Sutter's  Fort,  two  of  Fremont's  party  became 
derungod,  in  consequence  of  their  long  fasting  before  reaching 
this  post.  They  liad  indulged  their  apjietites  too  freely  when 
plentifully  supplied,  and  thus  brought  on  serioijs  brain  convul- 
sions.    From  this,  however,  they  afterwards  recovered. 

On  the  homeward  route  Fremont  journeyed  up  the  valley  of 
96 


402 


ADVENTURES   OF    FUEMONT    AND   KIT  OAKSON: 


tlie  San  Joaquin,  crossing  over  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  coast- 
range  of  mountains  at  a  place  where  they  meet,  forming  hy 
their  connection  a  good  pass. 

Four  comparteroa  joined  their  guide  at  this  pass.  Deseond- 
ing  from  the  hills,  the  party  reached  a  country  of  tine  grass, 
where  the  erodium  cicutar'tum  tinally  disappeared,  giving 
place  to  an  excellent  quality  of  hunch  grass.  Passing  b) 
some  springs  where  there  was  a  rich  sward  of  grass  aniong 
groves  of  large  black  oak,  they  rode  over  a  plain  on  which  the 
guide  pointed  out  a  spot  where  a  refugee  Christian  Indian  Imd 
been  killed  by  a  party  of  soldiers  which  had  unexpectedly 
penetrated  into  the  mountains.  Crossing  a  low  sierra,  and 
descending  a  hollow  where  a  spring  gushed  out,  they  were 
struck  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  yucca  trees,  which  gave  a 
strange  and  southern  character  to  the  country,  and  suited  well 
with  the  dry  and  desert  region  they  were  approaching.  Asso- 
ciated with  the  idea  of  barren  sands,  their  stiff  and  ungraceful 
form  makes  them  to  the  traveller  the  most  repulsive  tree  in 
the  vegetable  kingdom.  Following  the  hollow,  the  pai-ty 
shortly  came  upon  a  creek  timbered  with  large  black  oak, 
which  yet  had  not  put  forth  a  leaf.  There  was  a  small  rivulet 
of  running  water,  with  good  grass. 

They  continued  a  short  distance  down  the  creek,  where  the 
guide  informed  them  that  the  water  would  very  soon  disap- 
pear, and  turned  directly  to  the  southward  along  the  foot  of 
the  mountain;  the  trail  on  which  they  rode  appearing  to  mark 
tlie  eastern  limit  of  travel,  where  water  and  grass  terminated. 
Crossing  a  low  spur,  which  bordered  the  creek,  they  descended 
to  a  kind  of  plain  among  the  lower  spurs;  the  desert  being  in 
full  view  on  their  left,  apparently  illimitable.  A  hot  mist  lay 
over  it  through  which  it  had  a  white  and  glistening  appear- 
ance; here  and  there  a  few  dry  looking  huttes  and  isolated 
black  ridges  rose  suddenly  upon  it.  "  There,"  said  the  guide, 
stretching  out  his  hand  towards  it,  "  there  are  the  great  llanos, 
(plains;)  there  is  neither  water  nor  grass  —  nothing;  every 
animal  that  goes  out  upon  them,  dies."  It  was  indeed  dismal 
to  look  upon,  and  hard  to  conceive  so  great  a  change  in  so 
short  a  distance.    One  might  travel  the  world  over,  without 


n: 

a  and  coast- 
tbnning  by 

J.  Desceiul- 
)f  tine  grass, 
jared,  giving 

Passing  bj 
grass  aniong 
on  which  the 
\n  Indian  had 

unexpectedly 
iw  sierra,  and 
at,  they  were 

which  gave  a 
ind  suited  well 
iching.  A.6S0- 
and  ungraceful 
jpulsive  tree  in 
ow,  the  pai'ty 
rge  black  oak, 

a  small  rivulet 


OR,   TlIK    nORDKR    WARS   OF   TWO   OENTURIES. 


403 


finding  a  valley  more  fresli  and    verdant  —  more  floral  and 
Bvlvan  —  more  alive  with  birds  and  animals — more  bounteously 
watered  —  than  that  which  they  had  left  in  the  San  Joaquin: 
here,  within  a  tew  miles  ride,  a  vast  desert  plain  spread  before 
them,  from  which  the  boldest  traveler  turned  away  in  despair. 
On  the  twenty-fourth  of  April  the  party  was  surprised  by  the 
aj)]>oarance  in  the  camp  of  two  Mexicans  —  a  man  and  a  boy. 
The  name  of  the  nuin  was   Fuentes,  and   that  of  the  boy, 
Hernandez.      They  belonged  to  a  party  of  six  persons,  the 
remaining  four  being  the  wife  of    Fuentes,  the  father  and 
mother  of  Pablo,  and  Santiago  Giacome,  a  resident  of  New 
Mexico.      With  a  cavalcade  of  about  thirty  horses,  they  had 
coine  out  from  Puebla  de  los  Angeles,  near  the  coast,  under 
the  guidance  of  Giacome,  in  advance  of  the  great  caravan,  in 
order  to  travel  more  at  leisure,  and  obtain  better  grass.    Having 
advanced  as  far  into  the  desert  as  was  considered  consistent 
with  their  safety,  they  halted  at  the  Archilette,  one  of  the 
customary  camping  grounds,  about  eighty  miles  from  Fre- 
mont's encampment,  where  there  was  a  spring  of  good  water, 
with  sufficient  grass;  and  concluded  to  await  there  the  arrival  of 
the  great  caravan.    Several  Indians  were  soon  discovered  lurking 
ahout  the  camp,  who,  in  a  day  or  two  after,  came  in,  and,  after 
hehaving  in  a  very  friendly  manner,  took  their  leave,  without 
awakening  any  suspicions.    In  a  few  days  afterwards,  suddenly 
a  party  of  about  one    hundred  Indians   appeared    in   sight, 
advancing  towards  the  camp.     It  was  too  late,  or  they  seemed 
not  to  have  presence  of  mind  to  take  proper  measures  of  safety; 
and  the  Indians  charged  down  into  their  camp,  shouting  as 
they  advanced,  and  discharging  flights  of  arrows.     Pablo  and 
Fuentes  were  on  horse  guard  at  the  time,  and  mounted,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  country.    One  of  the  principal  objects 
of  the  Indians  was  to  get  possession  of  the  horses,  and  part  of 
them  immediately  surrounded  the  band;  but,  in  obedience  to 
the  shouts  of  Giacome,  Fuentes  drove  the  animals  over  and 
through  the  assailants,  in  spite  of  their  arrows;  and,  abandon- 
ing the  rest  to  their  fate,  carried  them  off  at  speed  across  the 
plain.    Knowing  that  they  would  be  pursued  by  the  Indians, 
without  making  any  lialt  except  to  shift  their  saddles  to  other 


404 


AOVKNTUKKS   OK    KHKMONT    AND    KIT    CAKSON. 


liorst'H,  tlicy  drove  them  on  for  about  sixty  miles,  and  on  the 
twenty-tburth  of  Ajwil  left  tliem  at  a  watering  ])lft(',e  on  the 
trail,  called  Agiia  de  Toniaso.  Without  giving  themselves 
ail}'  time  for  rest,  they  hurried  on,  ho])ing  to  meet  the  Sj)ani8h 
caravan,  when  they  discovered  Fremont's  camp.  Tiie  Colonel 
received  tljem  kindly,  taking  them  into  his  own  mess,  and 
promised  them  such  aid  as  circumstances  might  put  it  in  his 
power  to  give. 

On  the  following  day  they  left  the  river  abruptly,  and,  turn- 
ing to  the  north,  regained  in  a  few  miles  the  main  trail,  and 
continued  their  way  across  a  lower  ridge  of  the  mountain, 
through  a  miserable  tract  of  sand  and  gravel,  They  crossed  at 
intervals  the  broad  beds  of  dry  gullies,  where  in  the  season  of 
rains  and  melting  snows  there  would  be  brooks  or  rivulets; 
and  at  one  of  these,  where  there  was  no  indication  of  water, 
were  several  freshly  dug  holes,  in  which  there  was  water  at  the 
depth  of  two  feet.  These  holes  had  been  dug  by  the  wolves, 
M'hose  keen  sense  of  smell  had  scented  the  water  under  the  dry 
sand.  They  were  nice  little  wells,  narrow,  and  dug  straight 
dov/n,  and  the  travelers  got  pleasant  water  out  of  them. 

The  country  had  now  assumed  the  character  of  an  elevated 
and  mountainous  desert;  its  general  features  being  black,  rocky 
ridges,  bald,  and  destitute  of  timber,  Math  sandy  basins  be- 
tween. Where  the  sides  of  these  ridges  Mere  M-ashed  by  gullies, 
the  plains  below  were  scattered  with  beds  of  large  ]>ebble8  or 
rolled  stones,  destructive  to  soft-footed  animals.  Through 
these  sandy  basins  sometimes  struggled  a  scanty  stream,  or 
occurred  a  hole  of  water,  M-hich  furnished  camping  grounds 
for  travelers.  Frequently  in  their  journey  across,  snoM'  was 
visible  on  the  surrounding  mountains;  but  their  waters  rarely 
reached  the  sandy  plain  beloM',  M'here  the  party  toiled  along, 
oppressed  with  thirst  and  the  burning  sun.  ]5ut,  throughout 
this  nakedness  of  sand  and  gravel,  were  man}-  beautiful  j)lant8 
and  flowering  shrubs,  M'hich  occured  in  many  new  species. 
This  was  a  peculiarity  of  this  desert.  Even  where  no  grass 
would  take  root,  tlie  naked  sand  would  bloom  with  some  rich 
and  rare  flower,  which  found  its  apj)ropriate  home  in  the  arid 
and  barren  spot.      -After  traveling  about  twenty-five  miles. 


OR,     I'lIK    HOKDKK    WARS    OF   TWO   OKNTUItlFX 


40ft 


and  on  tlie 
lice  on  the 
themselves 
the  Sjmnish 
The  Colonel 
1  mess,  and 
put  it  in  his 

ly,  and,  turn- 
tin  trail,  and 
le  mountain, 
ley  crossed  at 
the  season  of 
8  or  rivulets; 
tion  of  water, 
J  water  at  the 
)y  the  wolves, 
under  the  dry 

dug  straight 
*  them. 

if  an  elevated 
Lr  black,  rocky 
[dy  basins  be- 

led  by  gullies, 

•ge  pebbles  or 
lis.      Through 


they  arrived  at  the  Af/ita  de  Tomaso  —  the  H[)ring  where  the 
liorbCH  had  been  left;  but,  as  they  had  expected,  tliey  were 
gone.  A  brief  examiiu\tion  of  the  ground  convinced  tliein  that 
they  had  been  driven  off  by  the  Indians.  Carson  and  Godey 
volunteered  with  the  Mexican  to  pursue  them;  and,  well 
mounted,  the  tliree  set  off  on  the  trail.  At  this  stopping  place 
there  were  a  few  bushes  and  very  little  grass.  Its  water  was 
a  pool;  but  near  by  was  a  spring,  which  had  been  dug  out  by 
Indians  or  travelers.  Its  water  was  cool — a  great  refresh- 
ment to  Fremont  under  the  burning  sun. 

In  the  evening  Fuentes  returned,  his  horse  liaving  failed; 

but  Carson  and  Godey  had  continued  the  pursuit.     In  the 

afternoon  of  the  next  day,  a  war-whoop  was  heard,  such  as 

Indians  make  when  returning  from  a  victorious  enterprise; 

and  soon  Carson  and  Godey  appeared  driving  before  them  a 

band  of  horses,  recogni/e<l  by  Fuentes  to  be  part  of  tliose  they 

had  lost.     Two  bloody  scalps,  dangling  fr(tm  the  end  of  Godey's 

gun,  announced  that  they  had  overtaken  the  Indians  as  well  as 

the  horses.     They  informed  Fremont,  that  after  Fuentes  left 

them,  from  the  failure  of  his  horse,  they  continued  the  pursuit 

alone,  and    towards    nightfall    entered  the   mountains,  into 

which  the  trail  led.    After  sunset  the  moon  gave  liglit,  and  they 

followed  the  trail  by  moonshine  until  late  in  the  night,  when 

it  entered  a  narrow  defile,  aiul  was  difficult  to  follow.     Afraid 

of  losing  it  in  the  darkness  of  tlie  defile,  they  tied  up  their 

horses,  struck  no  fire,  and  lay  down  to  sleep  in  silence  and  in 

darkness.     Here  they  lay  from   midnight  till  morning.     At 

daylight  they  resumed  the  pursuit  and  about  sunrise  discovered 

the  horses;  and,  immediately  dismounting  and  tying  up  their 

own,  they  crept  cautiously  to  f  rising  ground  which  intervened, 

from  the  crest  of  which  they  perceived  the  encampment  of 

four  lodges  close   by.     They  proceeded  quietly,  and  had  got 

within  thirty  or  forty  yards  of  their  object,  when  a  movement 

among  the  horses  discovered  them  to  the  Indians;  giving  the 

war  shout,  they  instantly  charged  into  the  camp,  regardless  of 

the  number  which  .the  four  lodges  would  imply.    The  Indians 

received  them   with  a  flight  of  arrows  shot  from  their  long 

bows,  one  of  which  passed  through  Godey's  shirt  collar,  barely 


406 


ADVKNTURK8   OF    KKKMONT    AM)    KIT   CAU8C)N: 


m 


miBsing  the  neck;  the  two  men  fired  their  rifles  upon  a  steady 
aim,  and  ruslied  in.  Two  Indians  were  stretched  on  the 
ground,  fatally  pierced  with  hullets;  the  rest  fled,  except  a  lad 
that  was  captured.  The  scalps  of  the  fallen  were  instantly 
stripped  off;  but  in  the  process,  one  of  them,  who  had  two 
balls  through  his  body,  sprung  to  his  feet,  the  blood  streamiiig 
from  his  skinnetl  head,  and  uttered  a  hideous  howl.  An  old 
Bquaw,  possibly  his  mother,  stopped  ami  looked  back  from  the 
mountain  side  she  was  climbing,  threatening  and  lamenting. 
The  frightful  spectacle  appalled  the  stout  hearts  of  Carson  and 
Godey;  but  thoy  did  what  humanity  required,  and  quickly 
terminated  the  agonies  of  the  gory  savage.  They  were  now 
masters  of  the  camp,  which  was  a  pretty  little  recess  in  the 
mountain,  with  a  flne  spring,  and  apparently  safe  from  all  in- 
vasion. Great  preparations  liad  been  made  to  feast  a  larffo 
party,  for  it  was  a  very  proper  place  for  a  rendezvous,  and  for 
the  celebration  of  such  orgies  as  robbers  of  the  desert  would 
delight  in.  Several  of  the  best  horses  had  been  killed,  skinned, 
and  cut  up;  for  tlie  Indians  li/  Tig  in  mountains,  and  only 
coming  into  the  plains  to  rob  and  murder,  make  no  other  use 
of  horses  than  to  eat  them.  Large  earthen  vessels  were  on  the 
fire,  boiling  and  stewing  the  horse  beef;  and  several  baskets, 
containing  fifty  or  sixty  pairs  of  moccasins,  indicated  the 
presence,  or  e-xpectation,  of  a  considerable  party.  They  released 
the  boy,  who  had  given  strong  evidence  of  the  stoicism, 
or  something  else,  of  a  savage  character,  in  commencing  his 
breakfast  upon  a  horse's  head  as  soon  as  he  found  he  was  not 
to  be  killed,  but  only  tied  as  a  prisoner.  Their  object  accom- 
plished, they  gathered  up  all  the  surviving  horses,  fifteen  in 
number,  returned  upon  their  trail,  and  rejoined  the  camp  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day.  They  had  rode  about  one 
hundred  miles  in  the  pursuit  and  return,  and  all  in  thirty 
hours.  The  time,  place,  object,  and  numbers,  considered,  this 
expedition  of  Carson  and  Godey  may  be  considered  among  the 
boldest  and  most  disinterested  which  the  annals  of  western 
adventure,  so  full  of  daring  deeds,  can  present.  Two  men,  in 
a  savage  desert,  pursue  day  and  night  an  unknown  body  of 
Indians  into  the  defiles  of  an   unknown   mountain  —  attack 


OR,   THE   BORDER   WARS   OF  TWO   OEa<TURIFi». 


407 


them  on  eight,  without  counting  numbers  —  and  defeat  them 
in  an  instant  —  and  for  wliat?  To  punish  tlio  robbers  of  the 
desert,  and  to  avenge  the  wrongs  of  Mexicans  whom  they  did 
not  know.* 


«  Froinont'8  Journal. 


"*." 


CHAPTER    LII. 

Adventuukb  op  Fkemont'h  Skcond  Expedition,  Conci.udkd-- Kit 
Oauhon  in  New  Mexico  — I)ew(.'Kii'tion  op  Taos  and  the  SKnxK- 
MENTH  OK  New  Mexico — Inteukstino  Incidents  op  8miio(imn(j— 
The  Fandanoo. 


On  tiik  fifth  of  May,  the  expedition  reached  the  Rio  de  ios 
Angeles,  a  brancli  of  tlie  Rio  Virgen.  The  animals  had  become 
80  completely  exhausted  tliat  it  was  necessary  to  remain  at  th's 
place  a  day  for  rest.  IVEany  days  previous  the  route  had  led 
through  a  desert  country,  where  no  water  and  but  very  little 
grass  coidd  be  procured.  The  camps  had  r  jt  been  fairly  pitched, 
when  Indians  crowded  numerously  around,  assuming  a  threat- 
ening attitude,  to  such  a  degree  as  to  compel  the  men  to  keep 
their  arms  in  hand  constantly,  to  prevent  the  intruders  tVoni 
taking  possession  of  the  camp.  A  strong  band  of  these  Indiana 
surrounded  the  horses,  which,  for  the  convenience  of  grass, 
were  guarded  a  little  above  the  camp,  on  the  river.  These 
were  at  once  driven  in  for  protection. 

Several  times  during  the  day  the  camp  was  Insulted  by 
Indians,  but  peace  being  Fremont's  object,  he  kept  simply  on 
the  defensive.  Some  of  the  Indians  were  on  the  bottoms,  and 
others  haranguing  him  from  the  bhiffs;  and  they  were  scat- 
tered in  every  direction  over  the  hills.  Their  language  being 
a  dialect  of  the  Utahs,  with  the  aid  of  signs  some  of  the 
hunters  could  comprehend  them  very  well.  They  were  bare- 
footed, and  nearly  naked;  their  hair  gathered  up  into  a  knot 
behind;  and  with  his  bow,  each  man  carried  a  quiver  with 
thirty  or  forty  arrows  partially  drawn  out.  Besides  these,  each 
held  in  his  hand  two  or  three  arrows  for  instant  service.  Their 
arrows  were  barbed  with  a  very  clear  translucent  stone,  a  species 
of  opal,  nearly  as  hard  as  the  diamond;  and,  when  shot  from. 

(408) 


OR,    TIIK    liOKDKU    WAIW    (»K   TWO    rKNTi;RIK8. 


400 


Di.UDKD  —  Kit 

TIIK   SkI"I'I-K- 
SMU(Utl.lN(»— 


:i  had  become 
einain  at  tli's 
•onto  had  led 
(lit  very  little 
airly  pitched, 
lin^  a  threat- 
men   to  keep 
traders  from 
these  Indians 
\ce  of  i^rass, 
river.    These 

insulted  by 
bpt  simply  on 
bottoms,  and 
ley  were  scat- 
ngurtge  being 
some  of  the 
ly  were  bare- 
p  into  a  knot 


quiver 


with 


les  these,  each 
lervice.  Their 
tone,  a  species 
len  shot  from 


their  lonjf  bown,  were  almost  as  ert'eetlve  as  a  gunshot.  \n 
these  Indians,  Fremont  was  forcibly  struck  by  an  expression 
of  countenance  resembling  that  in  a  beast  of  prey;  an<l  all 
their  actions  were  those  of  wihl  animals.  Joined  to  the  rest- 
less motion  of  the  eye,  there  was  a  want  of  mind — an  absence 
of  thought  —  and  an  action  wholly  by  impulse,  stronglyr 
expressed. 

.\  man  who  appeared  to  bo  a  chief,  with  two  or  three  others, 
forced  himself  into  camp,  carrying  with  him  his  arms,  in  spite 
of  Fremont's  orders  to  the  contrary.     When  shown  the  hitter's 
weapons,  he  bored  his  ear  with  his  fingers,  and  said  he  could 
not    hear.       "  Why,"   said   he.   "  there  are    none  of  .  you." 
Counting  the  people  around  the  camp,  and  including  in  the 
number  a  mule  which  was  being  shod,  he  made  out  twenty- 
two.    "  So  many,"  said  ho  showing  the  number,  "  and  we — 
we  are  a  great  many;"  and  he  pointed  to  the  hills  and  moun- 
tains round  about.     "  If  you  have  your  arms,"  said  he,  twanging 
his  bow,  "we  have  these."     Fremont  had  some  difHculty  in 
restraining  the  people,  particularly  Carson,  who  felt  an  insult 
of  this  kind  as  much  as  if  it  had  been  given  by  a  more  respon- 
sible being..    "  Don't  say  that,  old  man,"  said  he;  "don't  you 
siiy  that — your  life's  in  danger" — speaking  in  good  English; 
"and  probably  the  old  man  was  nearer  to  his  end  than  he  will 
be  before  he  meets  it."* 

Several  animals  had  been  necessarily  left  behind  near  the 
ciimp  of  the  previous  night;  and  early  in  the  morning,  before 
the  Indians  made  their  appearance,  several  men  were  sent  to 
bring  them  in.  When  Fremont  was  beginning  to  be  uneasy 
at  their  absence,  they  returned  with  information  that  they  had 
been  driven  off  from  the  trail  by  Indians;  and,  having  followed 
the  tracks  in  a  short  distance,  they  found  the  animals  cut  up  and 
spread  out  upon  bushes.  In  the  evening  the  Colonel  gave  a 
fatigued  horse  to  some  of  the  Indians  for  a  feast;  and  the  vil- 
lage which  carried  him  off  refused  to  share  with  the  others, 
who  uuule  loud  complaints  from  the  rocks  of  the  partial  dis- 
tribution. Many  of  these  Indians  had  long  sticks,  hooked  at 
the  end,  which  they  used  in  hauling  out  lizards,  and  other  small 

♦  Fremont's  Report. 


410 


ADVKNTUKKH  OK    FUKMONT    ANI»    KIT   (!.\UH0N: 


aninml«,  from  their  holes.  Diirinj^  tlio  <hiy  thoy  opcusinniilly 
rouHted  aiid  ate  lixardrt  at  the  HreM  ot  the  expedition.  Tlif>hu 
behjii^  to  the  people  who  are  generally  known  under  the  niimo 
of  Di^'gers. 

On  the  following  morning,  they  left  the  Kio  <lo  los  Aiij,'('l»'«, 
And  eontiiiiied  their  way  throtigh  the  eaino  denolate  and  revolt. 
ing  coiintry,  where  lizards  were  the  only  animal,  and  the  tnicka 
of  the  lizard-eaters  the  principal  sign  (jf  human  heings.  After 
twenty  miles'  march  through  a  road  of  hills  and  heavy  sands, 
tliey  reached  the  most  dreary  river  ever  seen — a  deep,  rapid 
stream,  almost  a  torrent,  passing  swiftly  by,  and  roaring  against 
obstruetions.  The  stream  was  running  towards  the  southwest, 
and  appeared  to  come  from  a  snowy  mountain  in  the  north. 
It  proved  to  he  the  Kio  Virgen — a  tributary  to  the  (\)lorftdo. 
For  several  days  they  continued  their  journey  up  the  river,  the 
bottoms  of  which  were  thickly  overgrown  with  various  kinds 
of  brush;  and  the  sandy  soil  was  absolutely  covered  with  tracks 
of  Diggers,  who  followed  them  stealthily,  like  a  band  of  wolves. 

On  the  following  day  as  they  journeyed  on,  one  of  the  men 
named  Tabeau,  left  his  post  and  rode  back  to  tho'  site  of  the 
previous  night's  encam])ment,  in  search  of  a  lame  mule.  The 
man  remained  until  suspicion  of  his  fate  was  aroused,  when  Cur- 
son,  with  several  men,  well  mounted,  were  sent  back  to  ascertain 
Tabeau's  whereabouts.  They  went  to  the  camping  ground  of 
the  previous  night,  but  neither  he  nor  the  mule  was  there. 
Searching  down  the  river,  they  found  the  tracks  of  the  mule,^ 
evidently  driven  along  by  Indians,  whose  tracks  were  on  each 
side  of  those  made  by  tho  animal.  After  going  several  miles, 
they  came  to  the  mule  itself,  standing  in  some  bushes,  mortally 
wounaed  in  the  side  by  an  arrow,  and  left  to  die,  that  it  mi^jht 
be  afterwards  biitchered  for  food.  Thev  also  found,  in  another 
place,  as  they  were  himting  about  on  the  ground  for  Tabeau's 
tracks,  something  tha  looked  like  a  little  puddle  of  blood,  hut 
which  the  darkness  prevented  them  from  verifying.  With  tliese 
details  they  returned  to  the  camp. 

The  next  morning,  as  soon  as  tiiere  was  light  enougli  to  fol- 
low tracks.  Col.  Fremont  set  out,  with  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  and 
several  men,  in  search  of  Tabeau.     They  went  to  the  spot 


y  occiiHioniilly 
ititni.  TlicHo 
uler  tlif  imino 

e  log  Ang('le«, 
iito  iiml  revolt. 
iiii«l  tlie  tracks 
l»ein^fl.     At'ter 
]  heavy  Baixis, 
—a  (loep,  nii»i<l 
roarinpf  iigainst 
tlie  southwest, 
\  in  the  north. 
)  tho  Colomdo. 
ip  the  river,  the 
J  various  kiiuis 
jred  with  tracks 
band  of  wolves. 
one  of  the  men 
the-  site  of  the 
lino  mule.    Tho 
usetl,  whenCai'- 
jack  to  ascertain 
)ing  ground  of 
lule  was  there, 
ks  of  the  mule,, 
vs  were  on  each 
g  several  miles, 
Hishes,  mortally 
ie,  that  it  might 
Duud,  in  another 
nd  for  Tahean's 
le  of  blood,  but 
ing.   With  these 

it  enough  to  fol- 
Fitzpatrick  and 
jnt  to  the  spot 


OK,    TIIK    ItoKDKU    WAIM   OK   TWO    (>'KNTirKliM. 


411 


where  the  appoarnncc  of  puddled  blood  had  been  H(>(>n;  and  this 
they  saw  at  oiico,  ha<l  been  tho  place  where  he  fell  and  died. 
I^lodd  upon  tho  leaves,  and  beaten  down  busheB,  showed  that 
he  had  got  his  wound  aooijt  twenty  paces  from  where  he  fell 
and  that  he  had  struggled  for  his  life.  Ho  had  probably  been 
shot  through  tho  lungs  by  an  arrow.  Frojn  the  place  where 
lie  lay  and  bled,  it  could  be  seen  that  ho  had  been  dragged  to 
the  river  bank,  and  thrown  into  it.  No  vestige  of  what  had 
helunged  to  him  could  bo  found,  except  a  fragment  of  Ids 
horse  ecju'pnu'nf. 

From  this  jmint  nothing  of  interest  occurred,  and  they 
reached  tho  frontier  settlements  of  Missouri  on  the  sixth  of 
August,  1844.  Fremont  proceeded  to  Washington,  while  his 
brave  followers,  for  the  most  part,  turned  back  into  tho  wilda 
of  the  great  West,  apparently  unwilling  to  advance  into  civil- 
ization.  Among  these  was  Carson,  who  proceeded  to  Taos, 
where  his  wife  and  family  anxiously  awaited  his  arrival. 

Let  us  now  leave  Fremont  at  Washington,  enjoying  tho  best 
honors  which  an  eidightened  people  can  bestow  upon  a  faithful 
public  servant,  while  we  follow  Carson  and  his  adventures. 
Tliis,  as  will  be  seen,  will  soon  lead  us  into  Fremont's  third 
expedition. 

It  will  not  surprise  the  reader  who  has  become  acquainted 
with  Carson's  changeable  habits,  to  learn  that  early  in  the 
spring  of  1845,  he  decided  to  become  a  farmer.  In  this  spec- 
ulation he  is  said  to  have  been  joined  by  a  Mr.  Owens.  For 
the  furtherance  of  this  purpose,  they  purchased  an  extensive 
tract  of  land  on  the  Little  Cameron  river,  and  at  once  made 
the  necessary  arrangements  to  improve  it.  The  farm  was 
located  about  forty  miles  from  Taos!  They  commenced  opera- 
tions by  building  some  small  huts,  which  served  as  dwellings 
for  themselves  and  their  laborers.  They  succeeded  in  sowing 
a  considerable  quantity  of  grain,  and  made  other  advance- 
ments, which  promised  success  for  their  elForts. 

As  we  are  soon  to  enter  upon  an  account-of  the  wars  waged 
in  the  conquest  of  New  Mexico,  it  will  be  proper,  at  this  place, 
to  glance  at  the  general  features  of  that  territory.  Perhaps 
the  town  of  Taos  aftbrds  a  fair  sample  of  th.-  markets  or  trad- 


412 


AUVKN'iUKKH   *)¥    KKhMoNT    AM>    KIT   1'AHm<»N: 


^^^■L 


iii^  |M>Htrt  of  tliu  country.  It  wiih  located  in  the  valley  of  Tuoh, 
aiKJ  coririiHtod  of  nevural  villa^crt  Hcattered  nUmg  the  v.illuy. 
The  principal  of  theHO  wan  cuIIcmI  Fernando/,  do  Taon,  at\d  lit 
situated  in  the  centre  of  the  valley,  on  an  elevated  pjut  of 
ground.  The  buildingrt  in  all  the  villajjfOH  of  New  Mexico  unt 
coiiHtructed  of  adohen,  hein^  one  8tory  high,  with  flat  rooftt. 
The  Mexicant)  have  but  very  little  regard  for  HtrectH,  buiMiiii^ 
their  Iiouboh  for  the  inoMt  part  with  great  irregidarity.  in  li 
buHincHS  point  of  view,  there  is  only  one  centre  to  each  viljnifc, 
called  the  ])la7!a.  It  it)  in  thi8  knot  that  all  the  stores  are  locn- 
ted,  and  when  business  is  purKuing  its  rogidar  chantiel^,  thin 
part  of  the  town  is  always  densely  thronged  with  Mexicuim, 
Americans  and  Indians. 

The  houses  are  all  whitewashed  with  linu»,  and  present  a  very 
wliite  appearance,  the  village  church  being  the  largest  and  i  in»it 
attractive.  This,  however,  is  a  poor  specimen  of  a  chinch 
building,  wanting  in  beauty  ^vithout  and  comfort  within. 
These  are  generally  provided  with  poor  bells,  from  which  loll- 
ing is  producal  by  roun<l  hard  stones  in  the  haiulri  of  the 
ringers.  Their' success  in  chiming  does  not  Hatter  their  skill 
in  music.  The  parde,  or  priest,  is  the  person  most  respected 
in  a  Mexican  village;  indeed,  ho  is  looked  upon  as  sacred. 
These  are,  for  the  most  part,  poorly  educated,  but,  under  the 
present  management,  this  objection  is  being  rapidly  removed. 

There  are  nearly  ten  thousand  people  in  the  villages  of  the 
Tros,  many  of  whom  are  idlers.  On  the  other  hand,  there  aio 
many  industrious  farmers.  Raising  horses,  cattle  and  sheep  U 
also  carried  on  with  very  good  success.  Their  commerce  has 
been  largely  increased  under  the  United  States  governiiioiit, 
and  the  scenes  of  poverty  and  destitution  which,  unhiippily, 
characterized  life  in  New  Mexico  under  the  old  Mexican  n^ov- 
ernment,  have  been  almost  entirely  removed.  At  the  period 
of  which  I  am  writing,  previous  to  the  war  with  Mexico,  the 
inhabitants  of  New  Mexico  wore  only  the  scanty  dress  peculiar 
to  their  own  country,  but  in  later  years,  when  the  goods  of 
American  factories  found  their  way  to  these  towns  without 
being  smuggled,  these  people  readily  threw  away  several  styles 
of  their  dress,  and  adopted  that  of  tlie  Americans  in  their 


OK,    rilK    IMIKDKK    WAKN   <t|<-    IWn    ('I.NTl'ltllsM. 


413 


pIncoH.  Anions  the«o  c)iitii>(cM  i  might  iiiuntioii  iiioro  piirticu- 
h\r\y  till)  dri'HM  of  thu  t(*iniilt'.  From  u  ntute  of  uhholiitc  nudity, 
tlii-v  liuv(>  U't'ii  oluvutrd,  ill  Hotiu!  iiiHtuiicuH,  tti  tkiikri  uiid  ttatins. 

H«'fore  Nuw  Mt»xi(!o  btttnmu  ii  'iVrriti»ry  of  tlio  llnifod  Stiiten, 
tlioviilnges  of  thu  TaoH,  mid  other  HottliMiieiitH  in  this  Territory, 
were  the  RccneH  of  uoiiHtant  Hiiuiggling  from  the  Hnited  SttiteM. 
The  Mexican  euHtoin  otHcers  were  either  hrihed  or  deceivtMl 
coiiHtiiiitly;  every  ])OHBih|e  ineaHiire  waH  aih>|)ted  to  cheat  them, 
and  when  thin  did  not  Hucceed,  briiwry  was  rcMorted  to  with 
very  good  rcHuIts  for  the  traders.  The  duty  on  American 
iiiiiiiiitiictureti  waA  enoniiourt,  and  Htmiggliiig  waH  carrie<i  on  to 
Kitcli  an  extent  that  it  wan  (juite  impoHHible  to  conduct  a  legit- 
imate trade.  (>ommerce  having  reache«l  thit*  condition,  very 
fi'W  persons  attempted  to  trade  in  the  village  of  New  Mexico, 
who  did  not  resolve  on  Binuggling  as  the  only  Bource  of  largt^ 
jiroHt. 

It  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  till  a  large  volumne  with 
incidents  of  tliis  kin<l  of  trade,  many  of  which  arc  exceedingly 
interesting.  A  favorite  plan  of  the  simigglers  was  that  n\' 
C'iirrviiig  a  large  supjdy  of  goods  t(»  the  bouiulary  line  and  then 
milking  a  caclie  of  them  in  the  forest,  advancing  with  a  very 
Pnmll  })ortion  on  which  they  ])aid  the  reguhir  duty  with  a 
tolerably  good  grace.  Advancing  into  tlie  settlements  they 
then  began  to  trade  with  the  inhabitants  without  arousing  the 
suspicion  of  the  authorities.  Whenever  a  favorabU;  oj)j)or- 
tiinity  presented  itself  these  merchants  would  replenish  their 
stores  from  the  cache  which  tliey  had  made,  and  thus  eontlnue 
to  sell  goods  to  the  value  of  tluMisands  of  dollars,  having  paid 
duty  on  perhaps  the  first  five  hundred  dollar's  worth.  Hut 
even  this  plan  was  attended  with  many  ditiiculties.  Oftimes 
wlicn  the  weary  merchant  was  making  the  cache  of  his  goods, 
a  keen  eyed  Indian,  who  had  been  following  him  for  days  for 
tlie  purpose,  lay  concealed  not  fifty  paces  off  in  full  view  of 
the  operation.  Then  stealing  quietly  away  ho  soon  becomes 
*lie  leader  of  a  sclcctt  band.  The  caclie  is  robbed,  and  when 
our  smuggler  returns  for  a  second  RU])j)ly  he  discovers  that 
while  lie  has  been  cheating,  the  Indians  liave  been  stealing 


414 


Am'KMTirnw  or  rKHMONr  and  kit  carhow: 


liii»  ^ondrt.     Ill  tin*  iiihlHt  of  liirt  rii^it  iiml  (liMiippointnitMit  li« 
could  not  tail  to  ri>('o;;tii/.i«  tlit;  (>(|itity  ot'  tin*  tniiiMactioit. 

Hilt  M  with  tlm  Iiidiiiii  wWon  \vron^«>d  or  rotiU'd,  it  mwtn 
Imu'hiiio  tlm  policy  of  tlu>H«  tnidi'M  to  hwIc  rovt'ti^i'.  Tlity 
wvro  HtddoiM  I'uii^lit  twico  in  tli<>  touim  trap.  A  fittui  miant 
waH  Hct  for  tlu^  lurking  tliiuvt'x,  and,  in  uonrtutjiicncit,  tlio  caclioH 
of  tlio  sinu^f^U't'M  Hooii  Ix'cainu  a  ti>rrur  to  tliciii.  \\y  Horiio 
arran^iMiiunt  a  lar^o  <piantity  of  powder  wan  iMiilioddcd  in  tlie 
uartli  jiiHt  over  tlin  f^oodtt.  ho  that  when  i  wan  diMtin'lxMJ  \ty  one 
unai'<piaint(M|  with  thiH  eircuiiiMtaiKtu,  it  would  rxphxU*.  In 
tliirt  way  many  an  In«lian  iiad  been  Hciit  up  liiiddunly  into  the 
air  far  aliovu  thu  Hurroundin^  truuH,  or  blown  into  atoiUH  by 
the  fatal  tna^a/ine. 

IS«»ino  of  thy  Indian  Puoblos  in  New  Mexico  were  also  very 
intercHtinjj^  to  the  traveler.  Their  housoH  wore  j^enerally  hiiilt 
on  top  of  each  other,  each  n  little  snialler  thnn  the  one  Ik^ow 
it,  until  a  Kort  of  pyramid  was  formed.  The  inhabitaiitH 
entered  their  rcHpeetive  <lwellin^g  through  the  roofs  by  the  iiiil 
of  ladders. 

The  farming  ntoiiHils  of  the  Mexicans  were  of  the  riulest 
kind,  many  of  them  !>eing  ouriusiticH  of  ])ioncer  life,  but  tlii'iiu 
are  gradually  giving  away  to  tho  modern  iin]>lemont8  of 
American  manufacture.  The  pioneer  ]>lough  of  Now  Mexico 
conbisted  of  one  piece  of  timber  with  a  (pertain  bej^i.  One  end 
WHS  sharpened  and  on  it  was  fastened  a  piece  of  iron  nidely 
imitating  tho  ])lough  shear.  In  ploughing,  oxen  were  UHed, 
yoked  in  the  Egyptain  style,  to  the  horns. 

Tho  crops  of  corn  and  wheat  in  New  Mexico  w  ere  generally 
large,  and  it  was  principally  upon  those  that  the  inhabitants 
depended  for  support.  In  converting  this  grain  into  Hour, 
they  generally  used  two  large  stones  which  were  operated  by 
hand.  Their  diet  was,  for  the  most  part,  a  kind  of  corn  meal 
gruel,  wlieat  bread,  and  the  usual  vegetables.  Apples,  peaches. 
plums  and  grapes  were  raised  in  New  Mexico  in  great  abund- 
ance. The  celebrated  El  Paso  wine  was  manufactured  from 
the  latter. 

The  brief  description  of  Toas,  may  be  applied  to  Santa  Fe, 
and  most  of  ♦.he  other  towns  of  New  Mexico.    The  settle- 


OM,   TIIK    imUtiKIt    WAHH   n^    IWO  ItKNTt'ldM. 


41ft 


iiM'iitM  wort^  hII  Hiiiiiliir,  uiid  tin*  riiuiiticrM  uiul  iMiHtoiiiM  of  the 
|i«'i)|il«<  ulHiiit  tlio  Niiiiit'.  '\'\\r  Mi'xicuiiM  wiM'u  not  11  vi*ry  cliaHte 
or  \  irtiioiiM  Mt't  of  |)<'o|)l(>,  liiid  it  tiiHV  welt  Im<  regret  ttd  tliiit  lli« 
AtiM  ricHiiH  who  huvi)  ^oiti*  uiiioti^;  thctii,  hiivv  aM'onhMl  lh«>iii  u 
vi>rv  poor  oxiiinpU^  in  thin  rcHpcct,  hnt  their  condition  in  now 
lw'iiij(  nipitllv  iinprovcMl.  Thrir  ^rcuti'Ht  ri'rrrntion  unti  int>Ht 
cMluinito  iMijiiynutnt  cotiHiHtcd  in  (hincin^.  'l'hcr«(!  took  tho 
pltic(<  of  \\w  hull  room  in  tht>  Miori>  oivili/iHl  HtutcH,  only  thiit  thu 
Mcxicim  danou  wuh  lookt'<|  to  ax  Hoinfthin^  tnori'  of  a  pccMiiiurify 
ul*  tlii'ir  tuition.  During  thu  wititur  xouHuti,  thu  travulur  will  tind 
II  linnet'  it)  prof^rurtH  oti  over}'  ovutiittj^  in  u  town  or  villiijf<>  in 
Xt'w  Muxii'o,  to  which  hu  Ih  invariahly  invitid.  The  tnuHic,  in 
wliich  thuMU  pcoplu  do  tiot  uxcul,  cotiriiHtH  in  thu  violin  iitid  a 
l^iiitiir,  thu  pluyurrt  uccoinpanyiti^  thu  tniiHic  with  their  voicen, 
milking  up  wordu  to  nuit  tho  nticertaiti  ineuHnre  of  tho  air  as 
they  |)rocuud.  The  Muxican  ladies  ulwayH  dinplay  great  care 
and  little  guod  tuHte  iti  preparing  fur  the  fandiitigo.  They  put 
on  the  tnust  giuidy  eolured  paint,  but  Htill  appear  untidy. 
The  men  are  alwayH  drcHHed  plain  and,  aeldoin  make  atiy 
attempt  to  appear  in  fidl  dreHH. 

Such  wati  tho  eonntry  atid  Hueh  the  people  among  whom 
Kit  Cat'Hon  lived  during  tho  short  interval  botweon  Colonel 
I'Vetiiont's  second  and  third  expeditions. 


•ti 


CHAPTER    LIII. 

Colonel  Fukmont's  Third  Kxi'kdition  — Pkciili\u  Qdalities  of  Kit 
Cakbon  — Fhkmont  Attack  kd  by  tiik  Mkxicans  —  Fukmont  visits 
Klamath  Lakk  and  tiik  Lava  Bkos—Thiikb  of  his  i'auty  Killed 
—  TuK  Kevknue. 

It  was  in  1845,  that  Col.  John  C.  Fremont  set  out  on  his 
third  expedition  to  the  West,  an  account  of  wliich  will  be 
found  full  of  interest  to  the  reader,  since  it  leads  ua  into  the 
Mexican  war,  and  the  conqueest  of  California.  At  Iknt's 
Fort  the  party  was  joined  by  a  very  important  ])er8on — one  in 
whom  every  man  had  the  greatest  confidence,  and  whose  face 
was  like  sunshine  to  every  mountaineer — Kit  Carson.  He  had 
sold  his  farm,  and,  with  his  partner,  Owens,  had  joined  Fre- 
mont once  more.  The  Colonel  was  glad  to  see  him,  for  there 
was  always  certain  service,  in  connection  with  the  expedition, 
which  Kit  could  execute  a  little  better  than  any  one  else.  That 
service  may  be  summed  up  in  this  way:  Carson  was  a  j,'Oo(l 
guide,  being  acquainted  with  nearly  all  the  mountain  passes. 
He  was  not  a  bad  interpreter,  as  he  could  speak  Spanish  flnentlv, 
and  by  the  aid  of  signs,  msvke  himself  understood  to  any  tribe 
from  the  lava  beds  of  the  Modocs,  to  the  worm-eaters  of  Lower 
California.  In  the  honr  of  peril,  ^vhen  assaulted  by  hostile 
Indians,  the  foremost  foe  always  fell  by  a  ball  from  his  uner- 
ring rifle;  when  privations  and  hard8hi])s  were  to  be  endured, 
he  was  full  of  cheer,  and  his  brave  words  and  courageous  deeds 
were  food  to  his  weary,  disconsolate  com])anion8;  for  bravery, 
honesty  and  all  the  virtues  that  adorn  the  life  of  the  true 
adventurer,  his  was  an  example  so  brilliant  as  to  attract  all 
towards  it.  Kit  Carson  was,  tlien,  in  the  eyes  of  Fremont,  a 
valuable  companion. 

But  it  must  not  happen  in  this  narrative,  as  it  too  often  does, 
that  the  great  virtues  of  one  overshadow  those  of  others  around 

(410) 


OB,   TIIE    BORDER    WARS   OP   TWO  CENTURIKS. 


417 


0AMTIE8  OF  KiT 
FUKMONT  VISITS 

IB  rAUTY  Killed 

Ret  o\»t  on  hi8 
wliich  will  be 
kIh  U8  into  tlie 
a.      At  V>ent'8 
person — one  in 
and  whose  face 
(arson.     He  had 
liad  joined  Kre- 
;  him,  for  there 
the  ex  1)6(1  itinn, 
one  else.   That 
■son  was  a  good 
lonntain  passes. 
Spanish  fluently, 
)od  to  any  trihe 
-eaters  of  Lower 
lilted  by  hostile 
|l  from  his  inier- 
to  he  endured. 
Lirageous  deeds 
is;  for  bravery, 
life  of  the  true 
IS  to  attract  all 
Is  of  Fremont,  a 

It  too  often  does, 
[)f  others  around 


him.  There  were  many  good,  true,  brave  mountaineers  in 
Fremont's  party  wliom  the  great  explorer  loved  with  equal 
ardor.  Among  these  were  Maxwell,  Fitzpatrick,  Lajeunesse 
and  others — all  mountaineers  of  high  standing,  compeers  with 
Carson,  and  worthy  to  bo  led  by  so  brave  a  man  as  Colonel 
Fremont. 

Fremont's  third  expedition  set  out  from  Bent's  Fort,  pro- 
ceeding up  the  Arkansas,  thence  to  Ballo  Salado,  or  Soda 
Springs,  thence  to  Piney  river,  thence  to  White  river.  From 
this  point,  crossing  the  mountains,  they  proceeded  to  Provost's 
Fork,  which  has  become  famous  in  history  on  account  of  the 
massacre  of  Prevost's  party  upon  its  banks.  The  expedition 
traveled  from  this  point  to  Salt  Lake,  where  Fremont  spent 
8omo  time  in  exploring  its  islands.  Leaving  this  place,  they 
crossed  the  great  desert,  touched  at  Sutter's  Fort,  and  encamped 
at  San  Jo86.  This  long  journey  was  attended  with  many 
obstacles,  several  encounters  with  hostile  Indians,  loss  of  ani 
mals,  and  many  hardships  which  rendered  the  party  nearly 
unfit  for  a  continuance  of  the  journey. 

It  was  now  determined  to  proceed  to  Monterey,  in  Califor 
nia,  for  supplies.    Accordingly  they  set  out,  and  when  withiii 
a  few  miles  of  the  town,  they  were  surprised  by  meeting  a 
messenger  with  orders  from  General  Castro,  the  Mexican  com- 
mander, to  leave  the  territory  at  once  or  he  would  march  his 
army  against  them.  Fremont  gave  the  messenger  to  understand 
that  he  would  leave  the  territory  when  he  had  completed  the 
task  assigned  him  by  his  government,  but  not  sooner,  and  fell 
back  into  a  strong  position,  where  he  took  some  pains  to  for- 
tify his  camp.     He  was  scarcely  settled  down  in  this  position, 
wlicn  ho  observed,  in  full  view,  the  Mexican  general  advancing 
at  the  head   of  several  hundred  troops.     The  mountaineers, 
although  seeing  themselves  many  times  outnumbered  by  the 
advancing  forces,  were  unshaken  and  remained  firm.    Gen. 
Castro,  having  approached  the  party  as  near  as  his  courage 
would  support  him,  halted  and  began  his  demonstrations,  with 
a  view  to  frightening  the  intruders  away.     His  cannon  roared, 
his  cavalry  galloped  to  and  fro,  his  infantry  maneuvered,  but 
to  all  this  the  Americans  sent  forth  a  haughty  defiance,  invit- 
27 


p 

I''  I 


418 


ADVENTDRE8  OP   FKEMONT  AND  KIT  OAKHON: 


ing,  by  their  attitude,  the  advance  of  the  cowardly  Mexicans, 
but  to  no  purpose. 

Hemaining  in  tliis  position  three  days,  and  being  unable  to 
induce  their  enemies  to  light,  the  Americans  withdrew  to 
Lawson's  Trading  Post,  by  way  of  the  Sacramento,  where  they 
hoped  to  obtain  the  supplies  which  they  had  been  disappointed 
in  receiving  at  Monterey.  On  reaching  this  post,  they  were 
informed  by  the  Americans  in  that  place,  that  one  thousand 
Indians  in  the  neighborhood  had,  at  the  request  of  the  Mexi- 
cans, banded  together  for  the  purpose  of  killing  all  the 
American  settlers  in  the  place.  A  consultation  was  held,  at 
which  it  was  resolved  that  Fremont's  party  and  live  men  belong- 
ing  to  the  post,  should  immediately  proceed  to  disperse  the 
savages.  Accordingly,  they  set  out,  and  in  a  few  days  disco  veered 
the  enemy.  Without  delay  the  party  began  the  attack,  and 
for  some  time  the  Indians  disputed  the  ground  ably.  At 
length  they  began  to  waver,  and  with  this  the  mountaineers 
rushed  upon  them,  strewing  the  ground  for  nearly  a  mile  with 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  Indians.  Having  executed  this  import- 
ant task,  they  returned  to  Lawson's  Post. 

Receiving  the  necessary  supplies  at  this  place,  they  started 
for  the  Columbia  river,  passing  in  their  route  Mount  Shatta, 
the  snow-clad  monument  to  the  wonders  of  tlie  Sacramento 
valley,  which  lifts  its  towering  summit  fourteen  thousand  live 
hundred  feet  above  tiie  sea.  Passing  this  giant  wonder,  they 
proceeded  to  Klamath  Lake,  and  the  lava  beds,  among  the 
homes  of  the  fierce  Modocs,  whose  treachery  knows  no  bounds. 
While  encamped  in  this  dangerous  seclusion,  Fremont  was 
visited  by  a  messenger  from  Lieut.  Gillespie,  of  the  United 
States  army,  informing  him  that  war  was  contemplated  betweea 
the  United  States  and  Mexico,  On  hearing  this,  Fremont  and 
his  party  at  once  set  out  to  meet  the  Lieutenant,  who  was  then 
advancing  through  the  country  of  the  Klamath  Indians.  After 
a  journey  of  some  sixty  miles,  the  parties  met,  to  the  great 
joy  of  all  concerned.  The  tents  were  pitched,  and  a  social 
time  followed.  Fremont  sat  down  by  the  fire  and  busied  him- 
self reading  the  many  letters  which  the  Lieutenant  had  brought 
him,  and  asking  questions  concerning  the  news  from  civilizar 


y  Mexicans, 

ig  unable  to 
withdrew  to 
,  where  they 
disappointed 
st,  they  were 
3ne  thousand 
of  the  Mexi- 
lling  all   the 
1  was  held,  at 
^emenbelong- 
)  disperse  the 
[ays  discovered 
he  attack,  and 
and  ably.    At 
(  mountaineers 
rly  a  mile  with 
ed  this  import- 


OR,  THE  BORDER  WARS  OF  TWO  CENTURIK8. 


419 


tion.  All  hands  eat  up  until  about  one  o'clock  that  night, 
when,  weary  and  toil-worn,  they  fell  asleep  with  less  caution 
than  had  characterized  their  previous  encampments.  About 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  all  was  quiet,  Carson  was 
aroused  by  a  noise  which  told  him  of  the  presence  of  Indians. 
By  the  time  he  had  secured  his  rifle  and  made  the  alarm,  three 
of  the  party  had  been  slain,  one,  Mr.  Lajeunesso,  before  referred 
to,  the  other  two,  Delaware  Indians.  The  savages  were  soon 
routed,  but  the  loss  was  irreparable.  The  dead  were  buried  in 
the  forest  where  they  fell,  then  far  away  from  the  haunts  of 
civilization. 

It  was  now  certain  that  a  body  of  Indians  was  following 
their  trail  with  hostile  intentions,  and  the  next  move  was  to 
chastise  them.  Accordingly,  on  the  following  morning,  when 
thy  >  nedition  moved  forward,  a  party  of  fifteen  remained  in 
V  .  It  was  not  long  before  two  Indian  scouts  came  along 
tk  .-uii  way.  They  both  fell  from  the  bullets  of  the  moun- 
taineers, and  were  scalped.  Satisfied  with  this  revenge,  the 
rear  party  SQon  overtook  Fremont,  when  the  whole  expedition 
marched  forward  towards  California 


CHAPTER    LIV. 

Fbemont  as  a  CoNQUEnoK— Tub  War  in  NouTnERM  CALiFonmA— 
Heroism  ok  the  Mountaineers — Indian  Hostilities — Fremont 

AND    Ills    FOIXOWERP    CONqUER   NORTHERN    CALIFORNIA  — HlS  TrI- 

UMPDAL   Entry   into   Montery  —  Caufornia    Saved   from  tue 
ENOLisn. 

In  addition  to  tho  intelligence  that  war  was  contemplated 
between  tho  United  States  and  Mexico,*  Lieut.  Gillespie 
informed  Fremont  that  it  was  tho  wish  of  the  Government 
that  ho  should  take  a  favorable  position  and  watch  affairs  in 
California  (then  a  Mexican  State).  Ho  was  to  use  every 
means  to  conciliate  the  feelings  of  tho  people  in  that  territory, 
"encourage  a  friendship  with  the  United  States  and  do  all  in 
his  power  to  prevent  that  country  from  passing  into  the  hands 
of  the  English."  This  information  more  than  any  other  led 
him  to  return  to  California. 

Soon  after  the  expcndition  set  out  on  this  march,  Carson, 
who  had  been  sent  ahead  with  ten  men,  came  up  with  a 
thousand  Klamath  warriors,  among  whom  wore  the  Indians 
who  had  invaded  their  camp  two  days  before,  when  their 
beloved  companion  and  tho  two  Delaware  Indians  met  their 
death.  Fremont  had  ordered  Carson,  on  the  first  sight  of  the 
Indians,  to  return  to  the  main  camp  with  the  information,  so 
that  the  whole  force  might  march  against  them,  but  Carson 
was  too  eager  for  a  fight  to  obey  this  instruction.  With  his 
little  band  he  at  once  fell  upon  the  Indians,  and  after  a  fierce 
conflict  put  the  whole  to  flight.     In  this  bold  charge  Carson's 

♦  I  find  much  conflicting  testimony  on  tlie  question  of  Fremont's  infor- 
mation,  some  writers  liavc  it  that  Lieut.  Gillespie  informed  him  that  war 
had  been  declared,  while  others, — those  who  are  probably  correct— hold 
that  the  intelligence  comprehended  only  that  hostilities  were  anticipated. 

(420) 


OR,  THE   BORDER  WARS  OF  TWO   OENTURIBB. 


421 


3AliIT0IWnA— 
;B  — FllBMONT 

lA— His  Tui- 
D  khom  tub 

ontetnplatcd 
it.   GillcBpio 
Government 
,tcli  aflfairs  in 
to  use  every 
^lat  territory, 
and  do  all  in 
jto  the  hands 
my  other  led 

lareh,  Carson, 
up  with  a 
the  Indians 
when  their 
ans  met  their 
t  sight  of  the 
iformation,  so 
,  but  Carson 
)n.    AVith  his 
1  after  a  tierce 
arge  Carson's 

Fremont's  infor- 

led  him  tbat  war 

ly  correct— bold 

lyere  anticipated. 


n 


party  killed  several  warriors  and  destroyed  a  very  important 
village. 

Not  long  after,  when  Carson's  detachment  returned  to  the 
main  party  and  all  were  moving  forward  tog&ther,  a  band  of 
hostile  Indians  was  onconnterod,  and  in  the  conflict,  tlio  bold 
mountaineer  came  very  nearly  losing  his  life,  being  saved  from 
the  fatal  arrow  by  the  prompt  and  courageous  interposition  of 
his  leader,  Colonel  Fremont. 

On  arriving  in  Northern  California,  Fremont  found  tho 
country  in  a  state  of  extreme  alarm.  As  wo  have  already  seen, 
General  Castro  was  civil  and  military  commander,  and  was 
using  his  best  efforts  to  provoke  the  native  Californians  to 
enmity  towards  tho  Americans.  At  this  period  the  cntiro 
population  of  tho  territory,  excluding  the  Indians,  was  not  more 
than  ten  thousand.  About  one-fifth  of  these  were  Americans, 
or  foreigners,  as  Castro  called  them.  This  commander  had 
issued  a  proclamation  which  aimed  its  wrath  at  tho  Americans, 
requiring  them  to  leave  the  country.  It  was  soon  discovered 
that  England  was  at  the  bottom  of  this  measure,  and  that  it 
contemplated  tho  transfer  of  California  from  the  hands  of 
Spain  to  that  of  Great  Britian,  with  tho  extermination  of  all 
the  American  (United  States)  settlers.  In  order  to  insure  suc- 
cess for  the  undertaking,  tho  Indian  tribes  were  induced  to 
participate  in  the  conspiracy.  This  soon  resulted  in  burning 
and  destroying  the  crops  and  houses  of  the  settlers  from  the 
Stiites. 

It  is  not  surprising  then  that  when  the  brave  Fremont 
advanced  along  the  valley  of  tho  Sacramento,  men,  women  and 
children,  thronged  around  him  with  hands  extended  and 
voices  crying  for  protection. 

The  means  by  which  the  British  were  to  set  up  their  gov- 
ernment in  California  arc  thus  spoken  of:  A  Catholic  priest, 
named  Eugenie  Macnamara,  in  1845,  while  in  the  city  of 
Mexico,  made  application  for  a  grant  of  land  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  a  colony  in  California.  Ho  asked  for  a 
square  league,  containing  four  thousand  four  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  acres  to  be  given  to  each  family,  and  that  each 
child  of  a  colonist  should  have  half  a  square  league.    The 


h- 


4*22 


(JONQUKBT  OF  OAMFOKNIA    ANI)   NKW   MKXIOO: 


territory  to  Ik;  conveyed  to  hiru  was  to  Ikj  around  San  Fran- 
ciBco  Hay,  wuh  to  cinhraco  tliruo  thouHnnd  Hqiiaru  IcHguee  and 
incliKlti  tlie  wliolo  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin.  He  guaranteed 
to  c!Htul)liHli  liiH  colony  with  a  tliouHand  families.  In  his 
memorial  to  the  PrcHident  of  Mexico,  he  aayH: 

"  I  propose  with  the  aid  and  approhation  of  your  Excellency, 
to  place  in  Upper  California,  a  colony  of  Irish  (>atholicH.  I 
have  H  triple  ohject  in  making  this  proposition.  I  wish  in  the 
first  place  to  advance  the  cause  of  ('atholicism.  In  tlie  second 
to  contrihute  to  the  happiness  of  my  countrymen.  Thirdly,  I 
desire  to  })nt  an  obstacle  in  tlie  way  of  further  usurpation  on 
the  part  of  an  irreligious  and  anti-Catholic  nation." 

His  })laii  was  supported  by  the  central  government,  and  was 
referred  for  a  final  decision,  to  the  land  h^^'ders  and  local 
authorities  of  (-alifornia.  Conventions  were  now  being  held 
to  perfect  tlie  arrangement.  Father  Macnamara  had  landed, 
from  the  I^ritinh  ship  Juno,  which  lay  at  Santa  Babara,  and 
indeed  all  things  were  ready  for  the  consummatitin  of  the  con- 
Bpiracy.  Had  this  Ixjen  effected,  California  would  have  passed 
into  the  liands  of  the  English,  and  anotlier  bloody  war  would 
have  refiulte(J, 

Fremont's  ]>o8ition  is  now  clear  to  the  reader.  It  was  a 
critical  one.  lie  was  surrounded  on  either  hand  by  thonsanda 
of  hostile  Indians  who  had  already  commenced  the  work  of 
destroying  the  crops  and  houses  of  the  American  settlers,  and 
massacreing  the  defenseless  people.  The  reign  of  blood  and 
terror,  such  as  we  have  seen  on  the  borders  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia  in  1704,  was  now  being  repeated  in  Northern 
California.  Something  must  be  done,  and  that  quickly. 
Fremont  waited  only  to  become  ful'y  aware  of  the  situation— 
a  situation  from  which  any  but  a  truly  brave  man  would  have 
turned  away.  And  what  would  have  been  the  result,  had  this 
man  shrank  from  the  duty  which  now  stood  out  before  him? 
The  question  has  already  been  answered  by  manyl  The 
American  settlers  with  their  wives  and  children  would  have 
met  utter  ruin,  the  Golden  State  would  have  passed  into  the 
hands  of  a  foreign  power.     In  the  face  of  all  the  dangers  which 


OR,   TIIK   RORDRR   WAR«  OF  T^VO  OKNTURIF*. 


498 


iiirroundefl  Frejnont,  he  rlrew  liiH  Bword  nnd  declHred  hiniHclf 
a  defender. 

Ho  called  }iiH  men  topjether  and  laid  l)cfore  tijem  the  Btnte 
of  the  case.  They  were  all  ea^er  for  the  war,  and  deni^nated 
Fremont  as  their  leader.  Many  of  tlu;  HettlerH  joined  Fre- 
niont'H  party,  and  the  (Colonel  Boon  found  himnelf  at  the  head 
of  (|uito  a  force  —  all  men  whowe  courage  and  endurance  had 
been  tritnl.  He  marched  agaiuHt  tlie  IndinnH  without  delay, 
leaving  half  a  dozen  men  to  defend  the  carnj).  In  tluH  expefli- 
tion  he  broke  np  five  villa^^eH.  Cotninj^  up  with  a  Htrong 
hand  of  warriors  during  the  first  day's  march,  he  found  them 
engaged  in  the  war  dance,  in  black  paint  and  white  feathers 
preparatory  to  their  meditated  attack  upon  the  settlers.  A 
charge  was  immediately  made  and  the  Indians  dispersed 
with  a  heavy  loss. 

This  was  a  bold  stroke — an  acliievement  whicli  none  but 
those  fierce  mountaineers  rould  have  effected.  In  a  single  day 
they  had  utterly  ruined  the  Indian  combination,  and  half 
defeated  the  con8])iracy.  After  this  victory,  Fremont  moved 
his  camp  up  to  Butte's  Post,  a  rr.n">'c  ocated  about  fifty 
miles  above  Sutter's  Fort.  On  reaching  tin.:  point  Fremont 
received  information  that  General  ('astro  liad  a.:sembled  four 
lumdred  men  at  Santa  Clara,  and  that  he  had  seit  an  officer, 
with  a  detachment,  to  Sonora,  to  procure  horses  for  the  (-am- 
paign.  A  small  party  was  immediately  ser^.t  out  to  intercept 
tliiri  detachment.  The  work  was  faithfully  executed,  tne  whole 
tniiii  being  captured.  The  prisoners  were  set  at  liberty,  but  the 
horses  were  brought  into  camp. 

%  these  vigorous  movements,  Castro's  forces  were  all  driven 
from  the  country  north  of  tlie  Bay  of  San  Francisco.  "  At 
Sonoma,"  says  Mr.  Upham,  "  Gen.  Vallijo,  two  Colonels  and 
other  prisoners  were  taken.  A  squadron  of  eighty  men  under 
Capt.  De  la  Torre,  remained  for  a  short  time  on  a  peninsula,  at 
Sancelito,  on  the  north  of  the  bay,  directly  opposite  Castro's 
encampment  on  the  east  side,  but  he  was  ])re?sed  so  hard  that 
lie  abandoned  his  horses,  and  escaped  in  launches  across  the  bay 
to  Castro.  Fremont  found  there  a  bark  from  the  Eastern  States, 
commanded  by  a  patriotic  American,  Wm.  D.  Phelps,  of  Lex- 


424 


OOMQUKHT    «>K    OAUtOKNIA    AND    NKW    MICXIUU: 


i. 


ington,  Mass.,  who,  entering  heurtily  into  the  business,  lot  him 
have  his  launch,  into  which  ho  jumped  with  t'volvo  men,  and 
rowed  over  to  San  Francisco,  about  eight  miles,  where  thcru 
was  a  iurt  with  a  battery  of  guns,  mostly  brass  Held  pieces 
which  they  spiked,  employing  for  the  purpose  steel  files,  ueud 
for  sharpening  knives,  which  Capt.  Phelps  happened  to  huvu 
on  board  his  bark." 

Thus  ended  the  conquest  of  Northern  California,  and  now 
Fremont  sent  a  message  to  Gen.  Castro,  saying  that  he  could 
not  get  his  horses  over  the  bay,  but  if  ho  would  wait  for  him 
lio  would  pass  around  its  head  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  meet 
Lim  at  Santa  Clara,  and  decide  the  contest  for  the  country.  As 
he  proceeded  to  march  around  the  bay,  ho  reached  Sunonm  on 
the  Fourth  of  July,  where,  a  largo  number  of  Americans  hav- 
ing congregated,  the  day  was  duly  celebrated.  On  the  following 
day,  Fremont,  surrounded  by  his  enthusiastic  followers,  declared 
California  independent.  A  flag  for  the  free  State  was  unfurled, 
being  white,  with  the  figure  of  a  grizzly  bear  in  the  centre. 

On  the  following  day,  Fremont  proceeded  to  fulfill  his 
engagement  with  Castro,  and  marched  forward  towards  Santa 
Clara,  but  when  he  reached  Sutter's  Fort,  a  mesHage  met  him 
from  Commodore  Slant,  announcing  the  capture  of  Monterey. 
Upon  receiving  this  news,  Fremont  laid  down  his  "  bear  flag," 
and  hoisted  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  Thus  California,  through 
co<;  Age  and  prompt  action,  become  an  easy  conquest,  and  was 
aa- .  .u  to  the  American  Union. 

Fremont  proceeded,  however,  towards  Castro's  forces,  but 
the  latter  fled  at  his  approach,  and  the  Colonel  marched  in 
triumph  to  Monterey.  Of  his  entrance  into  that  city  we  have 
the  following  from  the  pen  of  an  English  author,  Hon.  Fred- 
erick Walpole,  who  witnessed  it:  "  During  our  stay  in 
Monterey,  Capt.  Fremont  and  his  party  arrived.  They  natu- 
rally excited  curiosity.  Here  were  true  trappers,  the  class  tliat 
produced  the  heroes  of  Fenimore  Cooper's  best  works.  These  men 
had  passed  years  in  the  wilds,  living  upon  their  own  resources; 
they  were  a  curious  set.  A  vast  cloud  of  dust  appeared  first,  and 
thence,  in  long  tile,  emerged  this  wildest  wild  party.  Fremont 
rode  ahead,  a  spare,  active-looking  man,  with  such  an  eye!    He 


UKf  TIIH   BOKUKK   VfAVtB  Ot  TWO  OKNTUKIEB. 


42& 


was  drossod  in  a  blouso  and  Icggins,  and  wore  a  felt  hat.  After 
him  cuino  five  Delaware  Indiuns,  who  wore  his  body  guard, 
and  had  been  wiMi  him  through  all  his  wanderings;  tlioy  had 
charge  of  his  bagga^r^^  horses.  The  rest,  many  of  thoni  blacker 
tluin  *;ho  Indians,  roi  o  two  and  two,  the  rifle  held  by  one  hand 
ucrotts  the  pummel  of  the  saddle.  Thirty-nine  of  them  were 
hid  regular  men,  the  rest  were  loafers  picked  up  lately;  his 
original  band  wore  principally  backwoodsmen  from  the  Stato 
of  Tennessee,  and  the  banks  of  the  upper  waters  of  the  Mis- 
gouri.  lie  had  one  or  two  with  him  who  enjoyed  a  high 
reputation  in  the  prairies.  Kit  Carson  was  as  well  known 
there  as  the  Duke  is  in  Europe.  Tlie  dress  of  those  men  waa 
principally  a  long,  loose  coat  of  deer  skin,  tied  with  thongs  in 
iVont;  trowscrs  of  the  same,  of  their  own  manufacture,  which, 
when  wet  through,  they  took  off,  scraped  well  inside  with  a 
knife,  and  put  on  as  soon  as  dry;  the  saddles  wore  of  various 
fashions,  though  these  and  a  largo  drove  of  horses  and  a  brasa 
field  gun,  were  things  they  had  picked  up  about  California. 
They  wore  allowed  no  liquor,  tea  and  sugar  only;  this,  no 
doubt,  had  much  to  do  with  their  good  conduct,  and  the  disci- 
pline, too,  was  very  strict.  They  were  marched  up  to  an  open 
space  on  the  hills  near  the  town,  under  some  largo  firs,  and 
there  took  up  their  quarters  in  messes  of  six  or  seven,  in  tho 
open  air.  The  Indians  lay  beside  their  leader.  One  man,  a 
doctor,  six  feet  six  high,  was  an  odd  looking  fellow.  May  I 
never  come  under  his  hands.  In  justice  to  tho  Americans,  I 
must  say  they  seemed  to  treat  tho  natives  well,  and  their  author- 
ity extended  every  protection  to  them." 


CHAPTER     LV. 

iHATTRRKOTIOlf     TK     BOUTIIKHN     (.'AMfOllNrA  —  FllKMONT     SunDUKR    THI 
WxMiA   WaIXAB  — TlIR   WaH    in    Ht>UTIIRIlN     (/AMrOHMA  —  DeHCIUP- 

TION  or  SouTiiEHN  CAi.rroiiNfA  —  Pico  Dkkkatki)  — TiiK  Peacr. 

TnK  course  piiraued  by  Colonel  Fremont  was  of  ^reat  viiliio 
to  the  Unite<l  States.  It  caused  Commodore  Sloat  to  tiiko 
possession  of  Monterey  on  liis  arrival  at  that  place,  so  that 
when  Sir  George  Seymour  arrived  with  a  British  Rquadrot ,  ho 
found  the  flag  of  the  United  States  floating  over  the  pliico.  It 
is  evident,  then,  that  California  was  saved  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  British,  by  the  grca^  foresight  and  bravery  of  Col. 
Fremont  and  his  heroic  followers. 

Immediately  after  the  conquest,  Commodore  Sloat  sailed  for 
the  United  States,  leaving  Commodore  Stockton,  who  had 
arrived  a  few  days  before,  in  command.  Fremont  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  Los  Angeles,  then  the  capital  of  California,  where, 
on  his  arrival,  ho  discovered  tliat  Commodore  Stockton  had 
arrived  before  him,  and  proclaimed  American  protection. 
Castro  had  fled  to  Sonoma.  From  Stockton  Fremont  received 
several  appointments,  in  the  government  of  California,  first  as 
Major  of  the  California  battalion,  afterwards  military  com- 
mandant of  California,  and  finally,  governor  and  commander- 
in-chief  in  that  territory. 

Early  in  September,  1846,  an  extensive  insurrection  broke 
out  in  Southern  California,  and  Fremont,  having  returned  to 
the  valley  of  the  Sacramento,  immediately  set  about  raising  a 
battalion  among  the  settlers,  for  the  purpose  of  suppressing  it. 
At  the  same  time  the  panic  was  increased  by  the  report  of  an 
Indian  invasion  from  the  north.  One  thousand  Walla  Walla 
Indians  were  marching  on  Sutter's  Fort.  The  whole  country 
vroB  now  a  scene  of  commotion,  and  every  available  force  was 

(426) 


UK,   TIIK    IIOKDKK    WAKN   or  TWO   OKNTtlltllA 


427 


IT  SnnnrjKn  xni 
ORNIA— Dmcuip. 
—  TiiK  Pbacr. 

»  of  great  viiluo 
s  Sloat  to  take 
it  place,  80  that 
8h  Hcjuadroi  ,ho 
er  the  place.  It 
I  falling  into  the 
I  bravery  of  Ci»l. 

I  Sloat  sailed  for 
•,kton,  who  had 
ont  at  once  pro- 
alifornia,  where, 
e  Stockton  had 
lean  protection, 
remont  received 
alifornia,  first  as 
B  military  com- 
tnd  commander- 

inr  recti  on  broke 
ing  returned  to 
about  raising  a 
f  suppressing  it. 
the  report  of  an 
md  Walla  Walla 
16  whole  country 
alable  force  was 


muitorod  to  moot  tluH  twvr  danger.     When  tho  now*  of  tho 
Indian  outbreak  reached   Fremont,  hiH  battalion  waM  already 
icven  hundred  utrong,  but  thinking  that  the  titory  waH  greatly 
exaggerated,  ho  took  only  three  mon  and  Htarted  out  to  moot 
the  Walla  Wallan.     lie  Hoon  camo  upon  them,  and  although 
they  were  not  bo  numerous  as  had  l>oon  rumored,  they  wore 
ncvcrthelesH  in  conHiderable  force,  and  in  a  state  of  great  angor. 
lie  marched  with  his  tlir(!e  men  dire(!tly  into  their  midst,  but 
they  knew  him,  and  instead  of  giving  battle,  they  gathered 
roiitid  him,  and  made  their  complaint.     They  liad  been  robbod, 
and,  worse  than  all,  one  of  their  best  young  men  had   buen 
killed  by  tho  whitos.     Fremont  listened  to  their  tales  of  com- 
plaint, and  then  promised  them  rcMlress,  on  tho  condition  that 
tluy  would   follow  his  advice,  which  was,  that  they  should 
retire  peaceably  to  their  winter  hunt,  and  meet   him  in  the 
spring,     lie  further  agreed  to  send  with  them  one  of  liis  own 
men,  to  hold  the  United  States  Hag  over  them,  and  said  that 
whoever  struck  that  flag  struck  him.     This  plan  was  success- 
ful, and  the  war  was  averted.    The  Indians,  after  contributing 
ten  of  their  best  warriors  to  Fremont's  battalion,  retired  to  the 
winter  hunt,  returning  in  the  spring  to  the  place  agreed  upon, 
where  they  were  mot  by  Fremont,  who  gave  them  horses  for 
presents. 

On  the  tweltYh  of  October,  Fremont  arrived  at  San  Fran- 
cisco with  his  battalion.  Here  he  embarked  his  command  for 
Santa  Barbara,  in  the  ship  Sterling,  but  they  had  not  been  out 
two  days  when  they  fell  in  with  a  vessel  from  which  Fremont 
learned  that  no  horses  could  be  had  in  the  country  to  which  he 
was  sailing,  and  he  returned  to  Monterey  for  the  purpose  of 
inarching  overland.  While  in  the  latter  place,  he  received 
intelligence  that  he  had  been  appointed  a  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  a  rifle  regiment  in  the  army  of  the  United  States. 

He  dispatched  a  messenger  to  the  Sacramento  valley  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  more  men  and  supplies,  and  prepared  for 
a  long  and  tedious  winter  march.  In  the  meantime  the  insur- 
rection had  assumed  a  formidable  shape.  A  party  of  four 
hundred  American  sailors  and  marines,  on  their  journey  from 
San  Pedro  to  Los  Angeles,  had  been  attacked,  with  the  loss  of 


428 


ooNguiiUi'r  ov  uamkoknia  and  nkw  mkzioo: 


•Ix  inon  killud.  Tlioy  wuro  dufuatod  by  a  itroiig  UhiiU  of  ('ali> 
forniaiiii.  Ix)a  An^olus  mid  SAtitii  I^Hrbara  wcrain  tholr  Itaridi. 
'Hic  llnitod  Stateit  Cunaul  had  Ihscmi  tukoii  priiunor.  Cuptuini 
iiiirrouf^lm  uiid  Fustor,  nnd  Mr.  Ehiiici,  woro  killud  in  u  nuwre 
HkiriiiiHli,  wltiiu  c«oortiiig  a  lot  of  liorHUi  to  Frotnont*ii  c'iuii|>. 
Of  tliu  liittvr,  Fremont  rccuivud  it.foriiintion,  nnd  with  n  force 
of  four  hundred  mounted  men  niul  tlireo  piecen  of  artillery, 
nmrched  to  meet  them.  A.  liir^  'Jrovo  of  beef  cuttle  hrutiglit 
up  the  rciir,  to  itervu  uh  provisiopi  on  the  march.  At  Sun  Jiiuri 
Fremont  receivwl  roenforccmuNts  in  tho  way  of  n  lurp;o  hodyof 
emif^runts,  who  hud  recently  croiHod  the  country.  One  of 
them,  nnmcd  Kdwin  lirynnt,  who,  in  1840,  puhliiihed  u  work  on 
Cullforniu,  served  um  u  Firiit  Liuutenunt  of  one  of  the  com- 
punicri,  und  uftcr>vurd8  becumu  ulculde  of  Sun  Frunclsco.  He 
BpeukH  of  the  ref(iment  in  tho  following  lunguu/y^o:  i 

*' There  were  no  plumeii  nodding  over  bruzen  helmcttt,  nor 
conts  of  brouduloth  spungled  with  luce  nnd  buttons;  a  hromi- 
brimmed,  low-crowiicd  hut,  n  shirt  of  blue  tlannel  or  buckskin, 
with  puntuloouM  und  moccuBins  of  the  Bume,  nil  generally  much 
tho  worse  for  weur,  und  sincurod  with  mud  und  dust,  iiiuku  up 
the  costume  of  the  p)*rty,  otHcers  us  well  us  men.  A  Icuthurn 
girdle  surrounds  the  wuist,  from  which  nro  suspondid  u  bowie, 
und  u  hunter's  knife,  und  sometimes  u  bruce  of  pistols.  Ttieeu, 
with  the  ritlo  und  holster  pistols,  nro  the  urms  curried  by  otH- 
cers und  privutos.  A  single  buglo  composes  the  bund.  Tho 
Btutt*  otHcers  were:  Lieut.-Col.  John  C.  Fremont,  com- 
munding;  A.  II.  Gillespie,  Mujor;  P.  13.  Reading,  l*uyjimi»tcr; 
Ilcnry  King,  Commissnry;  J.  R  Snyder,  Q.iurtermuster;  Wni. 
H.  Kussell,  Ordnance  Oflicor;  J.  Talbot,  Adjutant;  and  J.J. 
Myers,  Sergeunt-Mujor." 

In  another  place,  speaking  of  Fremont's  battulion,  Mr. 
Bryunt  suys:  ^'Tho  men  composing  tho  Culiforniu  battalion 
have  been  drawn  from  muny  sources,  and  are  roughly  cliul  and 
weather-beuten  in  their  exterior  uppearunco,  but  I  feel  it  but 
justice  to  stuto  my  belief,  that  no  military  party  ever  piisscd 
through  an  enemy's  country  und  observed  tho  same  strict 
regard  for  the  rights  of  its  population.  I  never  heard  of  an 
outrage  or  oven  a  trespass  being  committed  by  ono  of  tho 


nco: 


OK,   TIIK    UOMDKM    WAmN  or   TWo  OKNltrUIKM. 


42i) 


Imna  of  (Tall- 
in tholr  littixU. 
lor.    Cuptiiini 

lu(l  il)  U  HUVITO 

Qinunt*»  ctiiiii). 
id  with  a  force 
;e»  of  artillery, 
cttttlo  brought 
At  8iiit  Jiiari 
a  liirgo  body  of 
utry.  Otio  of 
ii»iic<l  u  work  ott 
10  of  the  coin- 
Fruncisc'O.    lie 

en  liehr.etH,  nor 
ittoiiH;  a  broiid- 
nel  or  buckskin, 

j^cjierully  much 
1  duBt,  make  up 
on.  A  leathern 
pondi'd  a  bowie, 

pitttoU.    These, 
carried  by  olli- 

tho  band.    Tlio 
''reuiont,   com- 

ng,  Paymaster; 

termaBtcr;  Wni. 

itant;  and  J.J. 

battalion,  Mr. 
fornia  battalion 
■ovighly  clad  ami 
but  I  feel  it  but 
vrty  ever  passed 
the  same  strict 
ivcr  heard  of  an 
by  one  of  the 


Amorican  vohintoont  during  our  nntiro  march.  Kvury  Anter* 
Iran  nppe>Hr'Ml  to  nndcrHtund  iMJifuctly  thu  duty  which  hu  owod 
to  hiniaijlf  and  othvr.i  in  this  roii|M>ct,  and  the  d(<|>ortnivnt  of 
the  battalion  might  bo  cited  an  a  model  for  imitation." 

After  marching  one  hundred  and  Hfty  miloN,  thin  little  armj 
inrpriMod,  in  a  dark  night.  San  Loniii  Obinpo,  the  Hcntof  a  dii« 
trict  commandant,  and,  without  llring  a  gun,  captured  Don 
JfHUH  Pico,  the  leader  of  tho  iuHurrection  in  that  placo.  "Two 
dnyrt  afterwards,"  says  Mr.  U))ham,  in  his  valiuible  work  on 
tho  life  of  Fremont,  *'  December  si.xteentli,  l*icowas  tried  by  a 
court  nuirtial  and  condemned  to  death  for  breaking  his  parolo. 
The  next  day,  about  an  hour  before  noon,  at  which  time  tho 
execution  was  to  take  placo,  a  procosHion  of  females,  headed  by 
a  lady  of  line  appearance,  proceedeil  to  the  quarters  of  Colonel 
Fremont,  and  with  all  tho  fervor  natural  to  a  mother,  wife 
ami  children  and  near  relations,  under  such  circumstanccg, 
implored  for  mercy,  and  prostrate  an<l  in  tears,  begged  for  tho 
life  of  tho  convict.  Their  supplication  was  granted.  Pico, 
who  had  borne  himself  with  perfect  coolness  and  firmness  at 
the  trial,  and  had  prepared  to  die  with  tho  solemn  dignity  of 
a  Spaniard,  when  brought  in  and  informed  of  his  pardon,  tlimg 
himself  with  unrestrained  emotion  before  Colonel  Fremont, 
clasped  his  knees,  swore  eternal  fidelity,  and  begged  tho  priv- 
ilege of  fighting  and  dying  for  him." 

Fremont  has  been  censured  for  liis  cleincncy  towards  Pico, 
but  when  it  was  considered  that  an  act  of  morcy  had  sojnetimcs 
more  to  do  with  subduing  tho  people  of  California,  than  tho 
shedding  of  blood,  tho  courso  ho  pursued  can  hardly  bo  ques- 
tioned. 

"On  tho  twenty-seventh  of  December,  the  battalion  entered, 
without  resistance,  tho  town  of  Santa  Darbara,  where  it 
rmminod  recruiting  until  tho  third  of  January,  ls47."  Sev- 
eral (lays  after,  as  they  were  ])ur8uing  their  march,  they  were 
met  by  two  messengers,  who  brought  the  welcome  intcUigcnco 
tlmt  Commodore  Stockton  had  retaken  Los  Angeles,  after  a 
long  and  victorious  engagement  with  the  insurgents.  It  was 
now  ascertained  that  the  enemy's  force  was  within  a  few  miles 
of  Fremont's  camp,  which  was  confirmed  by  tho  sudden  appear- 


430 


0«>NQUK8T  OF  OALIIN^BNIA    AND    NKW    MKXIOO: 


aiiee  of  two  Galitbrnia  officers,  who  visited  Fremont  to  treat 
for  peace.  After  some  consultation,  articloi*  were  agreed  upon 
on  the  thirteenth  of  January,  1847,  which  stipulated  tliat  all 
Califurnians  should  deliver  up  their  arms,  return  in  peace  to 
their  homes,  not  engage  in  hostilities  again  during  the  war 
with  Mexico,  and  do  all  in  their  power  to  keep  the  country  in 
a  state  of  peace.  Oalifornians  or  citizens  of  Mexico,  were  to 
be  permitted  to  leave  the  country,  and  none  of  them  were  to 
be  required  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States 
until  a  treaty  of  peace  should  bo  made  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico.  This  was  called  the  "  capitulation  of  Cow- 
enga."  On  the  following  day,  Fremont  reached  Cindad  de  los 
Angeles,  having  conquered  California,  and  secured  peace  and 
protection  to  the  United  States  settlers  in  that  territory. 

We  must  now  go  back  a  few  months  to  bring  forward  the 
adventures  of  Gen.  Kearney.  After  linishing  the  conquest  of 
California,  which  Fremont  had  so  effectually  begun.  Commo- 
dore Stockton  sent  Kit  Carson,  with  fifteen  men,  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  with  dispatches,  giving  full  details  of  what  had  taken 
place.  Carson  was,  if  possible,  to  complete  the  journey  and 
return  in  four  months.  Ho  set  out  accordingly,  and  after 
traveling  eastward  for  about  thirty  days,  he  met  Gen.  Kearney, 
on  his  way  to  California,  "  to  conquer  the  Mexicans."  Of 
course  he  received  information  that  he  was  too  late  to  perform 
that  work,  upon  which  he  divided  his  command,  and  with  a 
portion  of  it  continued  towards  California.  Carson  accom- 
panied this  detachment. 

Gen.  Kearney  had  no  sooner  reached  the  borders  of  Califor- 
nia, than  he  was  met  by  the  enemy  in  full  force;  for,  as  the 
reader  will  observe,  the  insurrectionary  movement  was  then  at 
its  height.  When  within  thirty  miles  of  San  Diego,  he  fought 
two  battles,  in  which  he  was  partially  defeated.  Being  sur- 
rounded by  the  enemy,  and  reduced  to  a  state  of  siege,  he  was 
in  great  want  of  grass  and  water.  In  this  extremity,  as  in  all 
others  in  which  he  found  himself,  Kit  Carson  came  to  the  front 
as  a  volunteer  in  a  bold  scheme  for  relief.  In  this  he  was 
accompanied  by  one  Beal  and  a  Delaware  Indian.  They 
started  out,  and,  under  cover  of  the  night,  crawled  through  the 


OR,  TUB   DOKOEK   WARS  OF  TWO   CKNTUK1K8. 


431 


enemy's' lines.  Having  taken  otf  their  shoes  to  lessen  the 
noise  consequent  upon  their  progress,  they  unfortunately  lost 
them,  and  were  compelled  to  continue  their  route  barefooted. 
After  a  cautious  journey,  they  reached  their  destination,  and 
procured  the  necessary  relief  for  Gen.  Kearney,  which  dis- 
persed the  enemy  and  led  him  in  triumph  to  Los  Angeles. 

Here  ditHculties  arose  which  terminated  unhappily.  Cali- 
fornia and  the  Pacific  slope  had  been  conquered,  but  who  was 
to  command.  Commodore  Stockton  and  Gen.  Kearney  were 
both,  according  to  their  understandings  of  the  instructions 
they  had  received,  appointed  to  the  office;  and  when  we  con- 
sider that  this  territory  was  so  far  from  the  seat  of  government, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  difficulties  of  this  kind  should  have 
occurred.  For  the  most  part,  dispatches  from  Washington  had 
to  be  sent  via  Cape  Horn,  which  sufficiently  explains  the  neces- 
sity of  action  on  the  part  of  these  officers  without  definite 
instructions.  At  all  events  we  find  Kearney  and  Stockton 
disputing  the  right  to  command.  For  a  time  Gen.  Kearney's 
forces  were  so  sir.d,ll  that  he  was  obliged  to  yield  to  Stockton, 
but  on  receiving  reenforcements,  he  entered  upon  full  com- 
mand, and  seizing  Col.  Fremont,  sent  him  under  arrest  to  the 
United  States.  He  was  afterwards  tried  for  disobedience  of 
orders,  and  found  guilty,  but  the  development  of  subsequent 
circuriistaiices,  proved  that  he  acted  to  the  best  of  his  judg- 
ment and  in  a  patriotic  manner. 

For  further  particulars  of  the  lives  of  Kit  Carson  and  CoK 
Fremont,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  appendix,  in  which  I 
have  followed  out  all  those  circumstances  that  cannot  well  be 
included  in  the  current  of  the  narrative. 


CHAPTER    LVI 


Gbnehal  Keaiinet  and  Colonel  DoFJPnAw  — The  Conquest  of  Nett 
Mexico— Battle  of  tue  Sacuamento  —  Cuiiiuaiiua  Taken  — 
Qloiiious  VicTOiiY  OF  TUB  MissouiiiANS— TniuMPnAL  Entuy  into 
the  Ancient  Capital. 

In  following  the  adventures  of  Colonel  Fremont  and  Kit 
Carson  through  the  mountains  and  over  the  broad  prairies  of 
the  great  west,  I  have,  I  trust,  accomplished  two  ends — >hrst, 
in  giving  the  reader  a  slight  description  of  the  outposts  of  civ- 
ilization  in  the  west  in  1843-6,  and  of  the  physical  features  of 
the  country,  and  second,  in  furnishing  an  account  of  the  lives 
and  public  services  of  two  brave  men.  This  part  of  the  narra- 
tive has  led  us  into  the  Mexican  war,  and  we  have  already  seen 
the  Mexican  power  overthrown  in  California  and  the  Pacific 
slope.  Let  us  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  events  that  were 
transpiring  in  New  Mexico,  and  in  Mexico  itself.  Tlie  first  will 
give  us  something  of  the  lives  of  General  Kearnej',  of  whom 
I  have  already  spoken,  and  Colonel  Doniphan;  and  the  second 
a  bright  page  in  the  history  of  Generals  Scott  and  Taylor. 

First  then  as  to  New  Mexico.  On  the  thirtith  of  June, 
1846,  by  order  of  government.  General  Kearney  marched 
from  Fort  Leavenworth  with  sixteen  hundred  regulars,  on  an 
expedition  against  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of  New  Mexico.  After 
marching  eight  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  six  weeks,  he  took 
possession  of  the  place  in  the  following  August.  Having 
accomplished  this  he  published  a  proclamation  in  which  he 
claimed  that  New  Mexico  belonged  to  the  United  States,  and 
called  upon  the  inhabitants  to  submit  in  peace  to  tlie  new 
government.  He  then  started  for  California,  but  we  have 
already  seen  the  results  of  this  expedition.  When  he  was  met 
by  Kit  Carson  he  sent  back  the  greater  part  of  his  force, 

(432) 


OR,   TIIK  nORDKR    WARS  OF  TWO  0KNTURIK8. 


438 


NQtiKST  OF  New 
aiDA   Taken  — 

FAIi    ENTRTt  INTO 

mont  and  Kit 
oad  prairies  of 
iro  ends  — tirst, 
mtposts  of  civ- 
ical  features  of 
unt  of  the  lives 
|rt  of  the  narra- 
ive  already  seen 
Hid  the  Pacitic 
vents  that  were 
The  first  will 
irney,  of  whom 
and  the  second 
and  Taylor, 
lirtith  of  June, 
arney  marched 
regulars,  on  an 
Mexico.    After 
weeks,  he  took 
jgust.     Having 
on  in  which  he 
ted  States,  and 
lace  to  the  new 
I,  but  we  have 
hen  he  was  met 
Irt  of  his  force, 


and,  with   a   small  troop    hurried    on    to    join  Commodore 
Stockton,  while  Colonel  Doniphan  Ud  the  main  body  across 
the  moujitalns  for  the  j)urpo8e  of  punishing  the  Indians  who 
jiiul  so   long    harrassed    the    people  of  New    Mexico.     The 
Navahos,  the  principal  hostile  tribe  in  this  affair  were  com- 
])elle(l  to  ask  for  peace,  which  Colonel  Doniphan  granted  them 
only  on  the  condition   that  they  would  desist   from  further 
ajrgressions  upon  the  people  whom  the  Americans  had  just 
conquered  —  a  novel  treaty  indeed.     This  object  accomplished 
and  impatient  of  inactivity,  and  without  deiinite  orders,  they 
turned  eastward  to  "carve  some  new  work  for  themselves." 
Chihuahua  now  became  an  object  of  conquest.     Tliis  was  a 
city  of  nearly  thirty  thousand  souls,  the  seat  of  government  of 
the  Mexican  state  of  that  name,  and  at  one  time  the  residence 
of  the  Captains-General  of  the  Internal  Provinces  under  the 
Vice-Eegal  Government  of  new  Spain.     Tliis  was  indeed  a 
perilous  enterprise  and  a  daring  one  for  a  thousand  men  to 
undertake,  but  danger  and  hardships,  in  those  days  lentacharti 
to  any  enterprise,  and  the  adventurous  march  was  resolved  on, 
and  at  once  commenced.     "First,"  said  Hon.  Thomas  Benton 
when  addressing  Colonel  Doniphan's  command  on  its  return, 
"the  ominous  desert  was  passed,  its  character  vindicating  its 
title  to  its  mournful   appellation  —  an  arid  plain  of  ninety 
miles  strewn  with  the  bones  of  animals  that  had  died  pinched 
by  hunger  and  thirst  —  little  hillocks  of  stone,  and  the  solitary 
cross,  erected  by  pious  hands,  marking  the  spot  where  some 
Christian  had  fallen  victim  to  the  savage,  the  robber,  or  the 
desert  itself — no  water  —  no  animal  life  —  no  sign  of  habita- 
tion.   There  the  Texan  pioneers  driven  by  the  cruel  Salazar, 
had  met  their  direst  sufferings,  unrelieved  as  in  other  parts  of 
the  country,  by  the  compassionate  ministrations  of  the  pitying 
women.    The  desert  was  passed,  and  the  place  for  crossing  the 
river  approached.     *    *    *    There   the  enemy   in  superior 
numbers,  and  confident  in  cavalry  and  artillery,  undertook  to 
bar  the  way.     Vain  pretension!     Their  discovery,  attack,  and 
route  were  about  simultaneous  operations.     A  few  minutes 
did  the  work!  And  in  this  way  our  Missouri  volunteers  of  the 
Chihuahua  column  spent  their  Christmas  day  of  the  year  1846." 
.28 


434 


CONQUEST   OF   CAIJFORNIA    AND   NKW    MUXICO! 


This  victory  at  tlie  river  IJrucito  opened  the  way  to  tlie 
crossing  of  the  river  Del  Norte  and  to  adniiijsion  into  the 
handsome  little  town  ofPa^o  Del  Norte,  "where  a  neat  civili- 
zation,  a  cointbrtable  people,  tields,  orchards  and  vineyanjs, 
and  u  hospitable  reception,  oti'cred  the  rest  and  ret'rehhim'iit 
which  toils  and  dangers  and  victory  had  won." 

Here  they  rested  nntil  the  artillery  reached  them  from  Santa 
Fe,  when,  in  February,  1847,  they  move<l  forward  and  fuiitrht 
the  battle  of  the  Ssicramento,  one  of  the  military  marvels  of 
that  age,  which  cleared  the  route  to  Chihuahua.  This  state 
was  entered  without  further  resistance.  But  let  us  look  in 
upon  the  battle  just  mentioned. 

The  force  under  Colonel  Doniphan  consisted  of  nine  hundred 
and  twenty-four  eftective  men,  one  hundred  and  seventeen  offi- 
cers  and  privates  of  the  artillery,  ninety-three  of  Lituten.uit- 
Colonel  Mitchel's  escort,  and  the  remainder,  the  tirst  regiment 
of  Missouri  mounted  riflemen.  They  progressed  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Chihuahua  until  the  twenty-tifth  of  February,  when 
they  were  informed  by  the  spies  that  the  enemy,  to  the  nnni- 
ber  of  fifteen  hundred  men  was  at  Inseneas,  the  country  seat 
of  Governor  Trias,  about  twenty-tive  miles  in  advance.  On 
the  twenty-seventh  the  command  arrived  at  Sans,  and  learned 
that  the  enemy  in  great  force  had  fortified  the  pass  of  the 
Sacramento  river,  about  fifteen  miles  in  advance,  and  about 
fifteen  miles  from  the  city  which  they  had  set  out  to  conquer. 
At  sunrise  on  the  last  day  of  February  they  took  up  the  line  of 
march  and  formed  the  whole  train,  consisting  of  three  hundred 
and  fifteen  trader's  wagons,  and  the  commissary  and  company 
wagons,  into  four  columns,  thus  shortening  the  line  so  as  to 
make  it  more  easily  protected.  They  placed  the  artillery  and 
all  the  command  except  the  cavalry  proper,  consisting  of  two 
hundred,  in  the  intervals  between  the  columns  of  wagons. 
They  thus  fully  concealed  tlieir  force  and  its  position  by  mask- 
ing it  with  cavalry.  When  they  arrived  within  three  miles  of 
the  enemy  they  made  a  reconnoisance  of  his  position  and  tin, 
appointment  of  his  forces.  This  they  easily  accomplishetl. 
They  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  one  battery  of  four  guns, 
two  nine  and  two  six  pounders  on  the  point  of  the  mountain 


ro: 


OR,    THE    BORDER    WARS   <>F   'HVO    CENTCRIES. 


435 


way  to  the 
ion  iiitu  the 
a  nqat  civili- 
i   vineyanls, 

ret'reblniiont 

w  from  Suiua 
d  aiul  fuu^'ht 
•y  inarvfla  of 
a.  This  state 
3t  U8  look  in 

nine  hundred 
seventeen  otH- 
)i  Lieuten.mt- 
tirst  regiment 
il  in  the  cUrec- 
ebrnary.  when 
y,  to  the  nuin- 
e  country  seat 
advance.    On 
lis,  and  learned 
|he  pasij  of  the 
fice,  and  ahout 
ut  to  conquer. 
up  the  line  of 
three  hundred 
and  company 
jie  line  so  as  to 
18  artillery  and 
Isisting  of  two 
,ns  of  wagons, 
lition  by  mask- 
three  miles  ot 
losition  and  tUo 
accomplishe<.l. 
l-y  of  four  guns, 
t*  the  mountain 


on  their  right,  at  a  good  elevation  to  sweep  the  plain,  and  at 
a  point  where  the  nioiintaiti  extended  farthest  into  the  plain. 
On  the  left  of  Colonel  Doniphan's  command  the  enemy  had 
erected  another  battery  on  an  elevation  commanding  the  road, 
with  three  entrenchments  of  two  six  pounders,  and  on  the  brow 
of  the  crescent  near  the  center,  aimther  of  several  heavy  ram- 
part pieces  mounted  on  carriages;  and  on  the  crest  of  the  hill 
or  ascent  between  the  batteries  and  the  right  and  left,  the 
enemy  had  twenty-seven  redoubts  dug  and  thrown  up,  extend- 
ing at  short  intervals  across  the  whole  ground.  In  these  their 
infantry  were  place<i  and  were  entirely  })rotected.  Their 
cnvalry  was  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  redoubts  in  the  intervals, 
four  deep,  and  in  front  of  the  redoubts  two  deep,  so  as  to 
mask  them  as  far  as  possible. 

"When  Colonel  Doniphan  had  arrived  within  one  and  a  half 
miles  of  the  entrenchments  along  the  main  road,  he  advanced  the 
cavalry  still  farther,  and  suddenly  diverged  with  the  columns  to 
the  right  so  as  to  gain  the  narrow  part  of  the  ascent  on  his 
right,  which  the  enemy  discovered,  and  endeavored  to  prevent 
by  moving  forward  with  one  thousand  cavalry  and  four  pieces 
of  cannon  in  the  rear,  masked  by  them.  Doniphan's  move- 
ments were  so  rapid  that  he  gained  the  elevation  with  his 
forces  and  the  advance  of  the  wagons  in  time  to  tbrm  before 
the  Mexicans  arrived  within  reach  of  his  guns.  The  enemy 
halted,  and  the  Americans  advanced  with  the  head  column 
to  within  twelve  hundred  yards  of  them,  so  as  to  let  their 
wagons  attain  the  high  lands  and  form  as  before. 

The  battle  commenced  bv  a  brisk  lire  from  the  American 
batterv,  which  caused  the  enemy  to  unmask  and  return  the 
assault.  Even  at  this  distance  the  Americans  killed  fifteen 
Mexicans,  and  wounded  several  more,  suflering  no  loss  them- 
jelves  beyond  two  or  three  mules.  Tlie  enemy  slowly  retreated 
behind  their  works,  and  the  Americans  advanced  so  as  to  avoid 
the  batteries.  After  marching  as  far  as  thev  could  without 
going  within  range  of  their  heavy  battery,  Capt.  Weightman, 
of  the  artillery,  was  ordered  to  charge  with  the  two  twelve 
pound  howitzers,  to  be  supported  by  the  cavalry  under  Capts. 
Reid,  Parsons  and  Hudson.   They  charged  at  full  speed  with  the 


436 


OONQIJFST   OK   OAI.IKOKNIA    AND    NKW    MKXKHj: 


howitzers,  and  were  gallantly  Hustaincd  by  Oapt.  Reid,  but  l)v 
some  niisunderstanding,  the  Colonel's  order  was  not  given  tt» 
the  two  companies,  but  Capt.  Hudson  antieipate<l  the  order, 
and  charged  in  time  to  give  ample  support  to  the  liowitzerH. 
Capt.  Parsons,  at  the  same  moment,  UHked  for  permisbion  tor 
his  company  to  charge  the  redoubts  on  the  left,  which  he  did  in 
a  gallant  manner.  The  remainder  of  the  two  battalions  of  the 
first  regiment  were  dismounted  during  the  cavalry  charge,  and 
following  rapidly  on  foot,  while  Major  Clarke  advanced  as  fast 
as  possible  with  the  remainder  of  the  battery,  they  charged 
the  redoubts  from  right  to  left,  with  a  brisk  and  deadly  fire  of 
riflemen.  Major  (vlarke  opened  a  well  directed  fire  on  a  col- 
umn of  cavalry  which  attem])ted  to  pass  to  the  left,  so  as  to 
attack  the  wagons  in  the  rear.  It  was  forced  to  fall  back,  and 
the  American  riflemen,  with  the  cavalry  and  howitzers,  cleared 
the  parapets  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  and  Doniphan's 
forces  advanced  to  the  very  brink  of  the  enemy's  redoubts,  and 
attacked  the  Mexicans  with  their  sabres.  When  the  redoubts 
were  cleared,  and  the  batteries  in  the  centre  and  on  the  left 
were  silenced,  the  main  battery  on  the  right  still  continued  to 
pour  upon  the  invaders  a  constant  and  heavy  fire,  as  it  had 
done  during  the  heat  of  the  engagement;  but  as  the  whole  fate 
of  the  battle  depended  upon  carrying  the  redoubts  and  center 
battery,  the  one  on  the  right  remained  undisturbed,  and  the 
enemy  had  concentrated  there  more  than  five  hundred  strong. 
Of  the  progress  from  this  point,  we  have  an  account  in  Col. 
Doniphan's  own  words:  "Major  Clarke  commenced  a  heavy 
fire  upon  it.  Lieut.-Cols.  Mitchell  and  Jackson,  commanding 
the  first  battalion,  were  ordered  to  remount  and  charge  tlie 
battery  on  the  left,  while  Major  Gilpin  passed  the  second  bat- 
talion on  foot  up  the  rough  ascent  of  the  mountain  on  the 
opposite  side.  The  tire  of  our  battery  was  so  effective  as  to 
completely  silence  theirs,  and  the  rapid  advance  of  our  column 
put  them  to  flight  over  the  mountains  in  great  confusion." 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  the  Sacramento.  The  force  of  the 
enemy  was  twelve  hundred  cavalry  from  Durango  and  Chihua- 
hua, with  the  Vera  Cruz  dragoons;  twelve  hundred  infantry 
from  Chihuahua;   three  hundred  artillerymen,  and  fourteen 


OR,    TIIK    liOKIIKK    WARH   OK   TWO   OKNTIIRIRH. 


487 


liundrcd  and  twenty  rimclieros,  badly  armed  with  lassoes, 
liinces  and  nuichotoes,  or  corn  knives;  ten  pieces  of  artillery, 
iiiid  six  ranij)art  pieces.  Their  forces  were  commanded  by 
Miijor-Gcnerul  Ilendou,  general  of  Dnrango,  Chilniahun,  Son- 
era and  New  Mexico;  lirigadier-Cireneral  Jostimani,  lirigadier- 
(tencral  Graoia  Conde;  General  Ugerto  and  Governor  Tria,  and 
colonels  and  other  oiKcers  without  number. 

The  force  under  Col.  Doniphan  cor.sisted  of  nine  hundred 
imd  twenty-four  eft'ective  men;  at  least  one  hundred  of  whom 
were  engaged  in  holding  horses  and  driving  teams.  The  losB 
of  the  Mexicans  was  their  entire  artillery,  ten  wagons,  three 
liundred  killed  and  about  the  same  number  wounded,  and  forty 
prisoners.  The  battlefield  was  literally  covered  with  the  dead 
of  the  enemy.  The  loss  of  the  invincible  Americans  was  one 
killed,  one  mortally  wounded  and  seven  slightly  wounded. 
Laiigiuige  can  form  no  tribute  worthy  tlie  coolness,  gallantry 
!uul  bravery  of  the  officers  and  men  in  Colonel  Doniphan's 
command. 

On  the  iirst  day  of  March  they  took  formal  possession  of  the 
capital  of  Chihuahua,  in  the  name  of  the  United  States  govern- 
ment. Their  entry  to  this  city  is  thus  spoken  of  by  Hon. 
Thomas  Benton:  "It  had  been  entered  once  before  by  a 
detachment  of  American  troops,  but  under  circumstances  how 
different !  In  the  year  1807,  Lieut.  Pike  and  his  thirty  brave 
men,  taken  prisoners  on  the  head  of  the  Rio  del  Norte,  had 
been  marched  captives  into  Chihuahua;  in  the  year  1847,  Don- 
iphan and  his  men  entered  it  as  conquerors.  The  paltry 
triumph  of  a  captain-general  over  a  lieutenant,  was  effaced  in 
the  triumphal  entrance  of  a  thousand  Missourians  into  the  grand  ' 
and  ancient  capital  of  all  the  Internal  Provinces!  and  old 
men,  still  alive,  could  remark  the  grandeur  of  the  American 
spirit  under  both  events — the  proud  and  lofty  bearing  of  the 
captive  thirty — the  mildness  and  moderation  of  the  conquer- 
ing thousand." 

Doniphan  was  not  merely  satisfied  with  conquering  Chihua- 
hua, but  he  bound  the  enemy  so  as  to  protect  the  American 
settlers  in  the  place.  Having  accomplished  this,  the  ancient 
capital  became,  like  Santa  Fe,  not  the  terminating  point  of  a 


4B8 


OONQUWIT   OP  CALIFORNIA    AND    NKW    MKXIOO. 


I 


long  oxpudition,  but  the  starting  point  of  a  nuw  one.  SiiyA 
Mr.  Benton,  from  whom  I  have  jiiBt  (|U(>te(l:  "  (ien.  Tii^lor 
WRft  some  whore — no  one  knew  exuctly  where — hut  some  seven 
or  eight  hundred  milca  towards  the  other  Hide  of  Mexico." 
J)oni|)hnn  Imd  heard  that  Tuvlor  hud  heen  <lefcated;  that  Jiiicna 
Vista  had  not  turned  uut  well  to  him.  lie  did  not  believe  this 
report,  but  he  concluded  to  go  and  see.  A  volunteer  party  of 
fourteen  undertook  to  penetrate  to  Saltillo,  and  return  with 
infornuitiou  as  to  the  truthfulneHH  of  the  rumor.  Amidst  many 
dangers  they  accom])lifthed  their  mis:  ion.  Then  the  wIidIo 
army  marched  forward,  a  vanguard  of  one  hundred  men,  jod 
by  Liout.-C-'ol.  Mitchell,  leading  the  way.  Then  followed  the 
main  body  commanded  by  Col.  Doniphan.  The  whole  tiihlo 
land  of  Mexico,  in  all  its  breadth  from  west  to  east,  was  to  be 
traversed.  A  numerous  hostile  po})ulation  in  towns — tren.-h- 
crous  Camanehes  in  the  mountains — were  to  bo  encountered. 
Uut  even  in  the  face  of  these  ditHculties,  the  Americans  set  out, 
accomplishing  a  safe  nuirch,  evading  Mexican  towns,  and  pun- 
ishing C/amanches.  It  was  a  novel  inarch,  for,  meeting  no 
armed  forces,  the  Americans  acted  merely  as  ]>rotectors  to  the 
Mexicans,  and  delivered  them  from  their  Indian  enemies. 

In  the  month  of  May  they  arrived  in  Gen.  Taylor's  camp, 
where  they  reported  for  duty.  But  that  general  being  then 
without  an  army,  was  compelled  to  decline  their  service,  and 
the  famous  Missourians  returned  to  their  native  State. 


fV 


,i 


>>. 


•  one.  Sa}'» 
Gun.  Tii>lor 
t  some  Btnen 
of  Mexico." 
;  tlmt  Hutna 
>t  believe  tliis 
itwr  purty  of 

return  with 
Amiilrtt  many 
}n  the  whole 
I  red  men,  led 

foll«>we<l  the 
Q  whole  tahlo 
>ftst,  was  to  be 
owns — treai'h- 
!  encountered, 
iricans  set  out, 
>wns,  and  pun- 
r,  meeting  no 
)tector8  to  the 
1  enemies. 
Taylor's  camp, 

•al  being  then 
ir  service,  and 

State. 


CHAPTER    LVII. 

Wau  Hktwkkn  TiiK  Unitku  Statkb  and  Mkxico  — Oknkuai-  Taylob 

I'UOCKKDH  TO   PoiNT   IhAIIKI.    WITH    AN     AllMY— IIk   IH   OuDK.UKD  TO 

Lkavk  tbk  Countuy— Hk  Ukki'mkb  — Hi8  Danoku  at  tue  Uivkr 
FoUT  — TuK  Batti.k  ok  Pai.o  Ai.to. 

Wk  now  coino  to  tlmt  desperate  but  glorious  contest 
between  the  United  States  and  Me.xico.  It  will  be  unnecessary 
to  dwell  here  upon  the  causes  which  led  to  this  war.  For  the 
nuist  ]>art  u\y  readers  arc  already  acquainted  with  these.  In 
May,  1845,  General  Zachary  Taylor,  of  whose  heroic  defense 
of  Fort  Harrison  we  have  already  read  in  our  account  of 
Tecuinseh's  war,  received  a  confidential  letter  from  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  instructing  him  to  place  his  troo])8  at  sucli  a  j)08i. 
tion  as  would  enable  him  to  defend  Texas  in  case  that  Terri- 
tory should  be  invaded  by  Mexicans.  This  was  immediately 
after  Texas  had  been  erected  into  a  Territory  under  the  United 
States  gover'  ,nt.  As  is  Mell  known  this  act  displeased  the 
Mexicans.  They  looked  upon  it  as  a  violation  of  tho  law  of 
nations,  and  as  ])rojocted  with  a  view  to  depriving  them  of  a  vast 
jiortion  of  her  territory. 

In  a  subsequent  letter  the  Secretary  of  War  addressed 
(lencral  Taylor  in  these  words.  "Should  Mexico  assemble  a 
large  body  of  troops  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  cross  it  with  a 
considerable  force,  such  a  movement  must  be  regarded  as  an 
invasion  of  the  United  States  and  the  commencement  of  hostil- 
ties.  You  will  of  course  use  all  the  authority  which  has  been 
<»r  may  be  given  you  to  meet  such  a  state  of  things.  Texas 
'iiust  be  protected  from  hostile  ijivasion,  and  for  that  purpose 
joii  will  of  course  employ,  to  the  utmost  extent,  all  the  means 
you  possess  or  can  command." 

In  persuance  of  these  instructions  General  Taylor  took  up 

(489) 


440 


roNQUKirr  ov  uvxico; 


1 1 

i 


his  pottitiun  nt  CorpuM  Criati  wliuro  lio  roiiiiiiriud  until  tho 
eiglitli  of  \(iit'c'ii,  1840.  On  thiM  (iutt>  tliu  Atiicriciiti  unny 
CotiiiiU'iK*c'(t  itH  iiiurch  tor  thu  Kio  (iraiulis  tliu  Hit>^i!  tniin 
bein^  i»rnt  l»y  wiitiT  to  I'oitit  Uiiht'l,  with  ii  i-orpn  of  nij^ini't'iH 
and  otHct't'H  of  ordiiunco,  eoniniundrd  by  Miijoi*  Mntiroc.  A 
bo<ly  of  Mexican  troops  wuro  cMioounttToil  iit  An'i>yu,  C'olonulo, 
but  the  AnuM'icMii  unny  wiiii  pcrinittt'd  to  \)\\m  without  Uing 
attackiul.  Tho  army  hud  not  procetMh'd  far,  howt'v«'r,  when 
Gt'iiorul  Tayhjr  wrb  met  b}-  a  <k'putation  from  MatmnoniH 
which  protested  apiitiHt  his  a])parant  invasion  of  that  country. 
Tlie  deputation  carried  a  white  Ha^^  and,  on  approaching;  tho 
Cieiu'ral,  desired  an  interview  with  him.  He  inforn)ed  tlio 
Me.xicans  that  he  would  halt  at  u  suitable  place  on  the  ruiid 
and  hold  a  conference  with  them.  It  was,  however,  he  says, 
found  necessary,  ou  account  of  tho  scarcity  of  water,  to  >'im. 
tiiiue  the  march  to  Point  IsalH;!,  and  when  within  H(;nic  ten 
milcH  of  this  place  the  deputation  lialted,  declining  to  accom- 
pany the  army  farther,  and  handed  General  Taylor  a  fonual 
protest  from  tho  prefect  of  tho  northern  district  of  Taiiiaiilip 
as  against  tho  occupation  of  the  country  by  Americiin  troops. 

Proceeding  forward  the  General  soon  discovered  that  tiie 
buildings  at  Point  Isabel  were  in  flames.  On  observim;  tliis 
he  sent  a  messenger  back  to  tho  deputaion,  informing  tlicni 
that  he  would  answer  the  protest  when  opposite  Matanioras. 
Taylor  looked  upon  tho  conflagration  before  his  cyct\  as  decided 
evidence  of  hostility,  and  regarded  tho  prefect  in  making  the 
protest  as  a  tool  of  the  military  authorities  at  Matamoru.s. 

The  cavalry  arrived  in  season  to  arrest  tho  Are,  which  had 
fortunately  consumed  but  two  or  three  buildings,  but  the  port 
captain  who  committed  the  act  escaped  before  its  arrival. 
When  General  Taylor  arrived  at  Point  Isabel  he  found  that 
the  inhabitants  had  fled  to  Matamoras. 

He  at  once  proceeded  to  erect  a  fort  on  the  bank  of  the  Eio 
Grande,  over  which  he  unfurled  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 
The  position  was  well  fortifled,  the  fort  being  furnished  with 
six  bastions  and  capable  of  containing  two  thousand  men.  On 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  tho  Mexicans  erected  battcrlea 
and  made  redoubtB. 


OR,  Tlir   IttiKfil'lK   WAIfH   nr  TWO  rTNTl'RIKH. 


441 


Oil  tlio  tciitli  of  April  Colonel  OroHit,  wliilt;   ridinf^  out  for 

cxirciHu,  wuH  iittacki'«l   hy  «omt)   IuwU'kh  rauolit'rooH,  iiMirdurtnl 

und  Htri|)|K'<l      TliiM  tlu  tlr«t  Amrrifim  Mood  whh  hlicd  in  tli« 

Mt'Nicuii    Will'.     On    tito    following    diiy    (tenuml    Ainpndin 

iinlvt'd   in    MutmnoiMs,  and  witliont  (U-liiy   cnti'ird  \ipon  tlio 

work  of  "coini»tdlinj^    tlit)   AnnTJcan  uriny    to   Iciivo  TrxuH." 

Wo  wlmll  »ee  liow  fur  ho  wim  HnccoHhfnl.     (Mi  tiie  tutlftli,  in 

writin;^  to  (Jonorul   Taylor   he   concliid«'H   art    followB:     •»  Hy 

explicit   and    di'tlnit«'    ordorn    from    my   ^i»vt'rnment,    whi«*h 

iifitlier  can,  will,  nor  hliould  rt'ct'ivo  new  outrii^^rs,  I  n'(|niro 

you  ill  all  form  and  at  latent  in  the  peremptory  term  of  twenty- 

t'o.ir  hours,  to   break  tip  your  camp  und   retire  to  the  other 

Imiik  of  the  Neueei*  river,   while  our  jjovernnu'ntrt  are  ri'«;ulat« 

ill",'  the  pendin<?  (luestion  in  relation  to  Texa**.     If  you   iiisiat 

oil  reiniiiriinjij  upon  the  soil  of  the  department  of  'rainanlipnH, 

it  will  clearly  result  that  arniri,  and  arms  alone,  must  decido 

tlic  <iuestion;  anil  in  that  case  I  advirto  you  that  we  accept  the 

uiir   \it   which,    with   so    miudi    injustice   on  your  part  you 

provoke  us,  and  that,  on  our  part,  this  war  shall  bo  conducted 

conformably  to  the  principles  established  by  the  most  civilized 

nations —  trusting  that  on  your  part  the  same  will  be  observed." 

General  Taylor  replied  to  thid  communication,  informinj^ 

the  enemy  that  he  could  not,  accordin;;:  to  his  instructions, 

withdraw   from   the  territory.     Soon  after,  ho  prevented  the 

8lii|>s  that    were    advancing   with    supplies    for  the   Mexican 

army,  from  entering  the  river,  and  declared  the  Kio  Grande 

in  a  state  of  blockade. 

On  the  twentieth,  all  intercourse  between  the  armies  was 
broken  oft',  and  on  both  sides  of  the  river  pre[)aration8  for  the 
war  were  going  forward.  8oon  after,  Taylor  received  infor- 
mation that  the  Mexicans  to  the  number  of  three  thousand 
iiad  crossed  the  river  and  fortified  a  position  so  as  to  cut  off 
liis  retreat  to  Point  Isabel,  where  he  had  stored  his  principle 
supplies.  A  party  of  sixty  men  was  sent  out  under  Captain 
Thornton  to  reconnoiter  the  position  of  the  enemy,  but  falling 
into  an  abuscade  they  were  all  made  prisoners  and  sent  to 
Matainoras.  The  Mexicans  had  concealed  themselves  in  great 
numbers  behind  a  chaparral   hedge,  and   the  reconnoitering 


449 


I'oN^trKirr  UK  Mi'XKii): 


I 


piuty  ninmluMi  int't  tlirir  iiiiiUt   hikI   wrrv  onptiirtHl.     Intoxi* 
cntc*!  with  lliir«  HiictTMrt  tlm  McxicuiiH  croHHcd  tlit*  rivrr  in  f^ntit 
inini'))«>i-rt  itiid  cotniiU'tnly  HtirnMiiKlvd    (ii'tifrul    Tuvlor'H  |H»iti. 
tion.     For  tlirci'  <luyM  tin*  littlt*  army  ciidnn'd  iiM>x|»rrHiiilt|(> 
niiB|K'nHi',  hut   on  t\w  t'oiirth   ('Mpfaiii    WiilktT  of  tht*  T«'\iiii 
liiui^X*'!''*  iirrivnl,  hrin^in^tho  wi'h'oirn'  now.*  thiit  idl  wu»»  ntill 
HHt'i<  ut  point  Inikhi'l.      IIi>  added  to  thiit  ird'ornnitioti,  however, 
that  the  phice  wiih  in  imminent  (hinder.     There  wuh  now  no 
timo  to  H|)ure.     (k>nt>ml  Tiiyh>r  ut  oneu  deeide<l  to  move  with 
thu  whidu  iirmy  tu  defend    thin    point,  which  hiMlid,  huvin^ 
otdy  II  tew  BohlierH  to  j^iirrinon  the  river  tort.     It  w»in  on  the 
tirnt  (»f  Miiy   thut    the  rt'treiit    w«m    et»mmonco().     The   niove- 
ment  WUH  eehdtrated   in    MatamoruM  hy  'Mhe  rin^in^  of  ItelJK, 
expioKJon  of  tire  arms  and  ev«'rv  <»ther  nuuufeHtation  <»f  joy." 
The    river  fort   im  I   heen   left    under  th»'  eommand  of  Aliijitr 
Ih'own,   and    (niieral    Arintu,  ttf  tho   Mexii'un  fo»eeH  at  once 
commenced   extensive  operatiouH   for  the  doHtn.ction  of  tlii> 
garrison.     On  the    thirti  of  May  a  hattery  opened   upon  the 
fort  and  kept  n)»  a  hri>k  fir«'   for  Homo  time,  hut  to  no  ttfoct. 
However,  on  tlie  mornin<f  of  the  fifth.  Major  Hrown  diHcovered 
n  hattery  in  n-ar  of  tlie  fort,  which  had  heen  i'rected  l»y  the 
Mexicans  during'  tlie  nij;lit.     It  opened  u  severe  tiru  uj)oii  the 
fort  and  was  assisted  hy  the  ^uns  in   Mutamoras.     For  three 
days  uji  incessant  cannonade  was  kept  uj)  on  both  sides,  (hniii^ 
winch   Major  Hrown  was  mortally  wounded.     The  coniMmmi 
devidved  upon  i'aptain  Hawkins  wlio  no  sooner  entered  upoii 
his  lU'W  station  than  he  nu>t  n  summons   to  surrender,  wliicli 
he  gallantly  declint'<l.     The  assailants  renewed  the  attack  with 
vi^or,  hut  on  the  ni^ht  of  tho  eighth  retired,  to  the  ^'reat  joy 
of  the  wearied  garrison. 

Gen.  'J'uylor  had  no  sooner  arrived  at  Point  Isahol  and 
adjusted  nuitters  at  that  station,  than  he  commenced  the  return 
march.  On  the  ei<;hth  he  received  information  that  theciicnij' 
was  stationed  on  tlie  field  of  I*alo  Alto,  not  far  in  advaiico. 
The  hour  for  hattle  was  now  at  hand,  and  the  soldiers  seemed 
to  realize  that  th(»v  were  sorui  to  test  their  bravery,  and  nicas- 
ure  streuf^th  with  the  Mexicans,  The  forward  march  was 
continued,  and  soon  the  Mexican  nrmy  was  in  sight,  in  battle 


OR,   TIIK    lU^KhKH    WAK»   or  tWo  rKNTtrHrKn. 


44:1 


urv<i.  Intnxi' 
f  rivrr  in  j;niil 

TKvl«»r'*  |H»»i- 
I  iii(*.\|>ri>HMil)K> 

of  tli«  Tt'Min 

lit   till    WUH    Htill 

ktion,  liuwi'viT, 
ri'  wiiH  now  no 
il  ti)  UMtsv  with 
)io  (lid,  loivini; 
It  wiiH  on  the 
[\,  Tlio  move- 
ugin^  of  Im'IIh, 
♦tiition  of  !•>>•." 
iniinil  of  Major 

fo'Ct'H    lit   OlK't' 

trr.ctioii  t»f  till' 

iMMH'd   upon  the 

l»ut  to  no  ctVi'ct. 

■(»wn  dirtt'ovorcil 

»>recti'<I  l>y  the 

re  tlru  npoii  tiie 

ras.     Kor  thrre 

)tli  Bidt'fl,  (iiiriiij? 

The  ooinnmiMl 
[.>r  ontorod  upon 
iirronder,  which 

the  attiick  witii 
to  the  groat  joy 

.iiit  Isahol  and 
iced  tlio  return 
that  the  enemy 
far  in  ntlvanco. 
H(»ldierr*  M-eincd 
iverv,  and  nieas- 
iird  inarch  was 
sight,  in  battle 


I'l 


urmy.  Tho  ordur  of  IwittU*  wii*  fonnod  in  Tu^lor'n  uriny  ni" 
foljowt:  "Till)  right  wing,  iindur  (/ol.  TwiggM,  wan  conipottod 
of  the  fifth  infantry,  under  Col.  MelntoHh;  HinggoldV  artil 
Irry;  third  infuntry,  under  ('apt.  Maniit;  twoeightem  poiiuderrt, 
under  liient.  (Ihurehill;  fourth  infantry,  nndi^r  Major  Allen; 
two  Hi|nadroiiH  of  dragooiiM  under  TuptH.  Kerr  and  May.  Tho 
Irfr  wing,  under  Col.  Itelknap,  wan  formed  of  a  iiattalion  uf 
Hrtillery,  under  ('td.  ('Iiildri;  DtineairM  light  artillery,  and  tho 
lif^hth  infantry,  under  (7apt.  Motitgoniery. 

In  thiit  urder  the  army  marched  forward  to  hattle.  When 
within  Hovuii  hundred  yard*  of  the  Mexican  foreo,  iU  right 
o|ienc<l  with  a  tr»'meiul(MiH  tlineharge  of  artillery.  "Then," 
m«  an  ahle  writi'r,  "  (Jen.  Taylor  wan  Keen  hurrying  along  his 
vitn,  deploying  it  into  line,  and  (>.\horting  tlut  Holdiei'rt  to  hu 
tiriii.  Order  wan  given  to  return  the  tire,  and  immediately  all 
otiier  hoiindH  were  drowiu-d  in  the  fearful  roar  of  artillery. 
Kt'Higning  tho  battle  to  this  terrible  engine,  the  infantry  and 
ritic  ct)rph  h'lined  upon  their  piec-eH,  and  watched  the  opp().^iii^ 
(iduinnrt  an  they  Hwayed  to  and  fro  tinder  the  coiiHtant  fire. 
At  every  diseharge,  whole  rankH  of  tho  enemy  were  mowed 
down,  and  neorcs  of  horttoH  and  horsemen  flung  into  one  uiidiri- 
tiii^iilHhable  inaHrt." 

At  length  tho  Mexican  infantry  began  to  give  way,  and  (Jen. 
Arista  ordered  a  charge  with  the  cavalry.  ^  "Pouring  down  in 
two  columns,  tho  lancerii  canio  towards  the  American  line,  with 
a  ifiaco  and  rapidity  ])oeuliar  to  tho  Mexicans,  lint  before 
tiii-y  reached  their  objwt,  Kidgley  and  Ringgold  opened  the 
artillery.  At  the  first  blast  they  staggered — again  and  again 
witli  stern  energy,  the  cannon  broke  forth;  huge  gaps  o])ened 
ainoiig  the  horsemen,  and  scores  sunk  down  beneath  the  tramp 
of  their  oom|)anion8.  Fear  sucrceeded  enthusiasm.  Every 
txertion  withered  before  the  <lreadful  ju'ospect  around.  They 
tiinit'd  and  fled  ])rccipitately,  leaving  behind  them  at  every 
sti'p  victims  to  the  iron  storm  that  pursued  thcni."  The  battle 
How  lifcanie  general,  and  raged  for  some  tinn^  with  fearful 
(iistnu'tion.  Suddenly,  from  the  useharge  of  the  cannon,  the 
grass  of  the  prairie  was  ignited,  which  rolled  up  volumes  of 
wnoke  and  for  a  while  screened  the  army  from  view.      The 


444 


coNQUEOT  01  Mexico: 


battio  ceased,  and  botli  armies  formed  new  lines.  Two  thou- 
sand Mexicans  attempted  a  flank  movement,  but  a  sHglit  breeze 
dispersed  tbe  smoke,  and  tbey  were  discovered.  Capt.  Duncan 
gallantly  led  his  troops  against  tliem,  and  arrested  their  prog, 
ress.  "The  Mexican  infantry  retired  to  some  neighboring 
chaparral,  but  the  lancers  stood  firm  before  a  fire  wiiich  cut 
deep  gaps  into  their  solid  masses."  But  now  the  infantry 
again  appeared,  and  moved  slowly  in  the  very  I'ace  of  the  storm 
from  which  they  had  previously  fled.  But  their  effort  was 
productive  only  of  their  ruin.  At  every  stej)  they  were  mowed 
down  with  frightful  slaughter,  and  they  Avero  com])ellcd  to 
retreat  in  confusion.  The  cavalry  soon  followed,  for  it  had 
been  literally  cut  to  pieces.  Aa  night  closed  in  upon  the  bat- 
tlefield of  Palo  Alto,  six  hundred  Mexicans,  dead  and  wounded, 
lay  upon  the  ground,  while  the  loss  of  the  Americans  wtis  but 
nine  killed  and  forty-four  wounded.        ■  ' 

On  the  following  morning,  the  Mexicans  were  seen  in  the 
distance  retreating,  and  Gen.  Taylor,  expecting  to  encounter 
them  again  during  the  day,  advanced  in  battle  order.  His 
army  proceeded  nninterrupted  until  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  when  information  was  brought  in  that  the  Mexicans 
were  posted  near  the  road  in  full  force.  The  position  which 
they  had  taken  was  most  admirably  adapted  to  defensive  action, 
and,  by  the  Mexicans  was  called  liesaca  de  la  Palma.  In  this 
sort  of  ditch,  and  amid  the  dense  thicket  on  its  banks,  the 
Mexicans  were  entrenched,  with  their  artillery  in  such  a  posi- 
tion as  to  sweep  the  road. 


I  •, 


CHAPTER    LVIII. 

The  Battlr  of  Rksaca  dk  la  Palma  —  A  Despkuate  Struqolb  — 
BiuvEiiY  OK  TiiK  Mexicans— The  Dead  and  Dying  — Qen.  Tat- 
Loii'8  VicTOUY  — Matamokas  Taken  —  Gen.  Taylor's  Difficulties 
—The  Siehe  of  Montekey— The  Victory. 


TuK  BATiLE  of  Rcsaca  de  la  Palma  was  opened  by  the  artil- 
lery. Kidgley  pushed  guns  to  within  less  than  ono  uiindred 
yards  of  the  Mexicans,  and  then  sent  a  shower  of  iron  hail 
against  the  enemy.  At  the  same  time  the  infantry  was  coming 
up,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  riHe  corps  lent  valuable  aid  to  the 
artillery.  And  now  the  struggle  was  fierce  and  'lesperate. 
The  Mexicans  seemed  determined  to  conquer,  and  took  no  heed 
to  those  who  were  falling  thick  and  fast  around  them,  biit  sent 
volley  after  volley  into  the  American  ranks.  At  length,  how- 
ever, the  enemy  retreated  to  a  place  of  security  behind  a 
chaparral  hedge,  and  the  Americans  pushed  forward  to  com- 
plete the  v'ctory  by  a  charge,  but  the  position  was  guarded 
with  artillery,  and  the  men  who  stood  by  the  batteries  held  out 
with  commendable  energy.  The  effect  upon  the  troops  in  Gen. 
Taylor's  army  was  shocking.  In  this  extremity,  the  general 
ordered  (/a])t.  May  to  charge  them  with  his  dragoons.  '•  May 
shouted  to  his  men,  and  the  next  instant  they  were  dashing 
headlong  down  the  narrow  road  towards  the  cannon's  mouth. 
Pausing  till  liidgley  drew  the  enemy's  lire,  they  again  drove 
oil,  and  almost  before  the  eye  had  time  to  trace  their  course, 
they  were  within  a  few  yards  of  the  fatal  guns.  May's  horse 
was  far  ahead  of  his  troops;  and  as  he  turned  to  wave  them  on, 
only  the  impetuous  Inge  was  near  him.  Yet  that  squadron 
was  not  faltering.  Fust  as  their  steaming  steeds  could  fly, 
they  were  hastening  on,  while  the  flinty  ground  rocked  and 
echoed  beneath  their  tread.     Suddenly  a  volley  from  the  higher 

(445) 


446 


(!<>NQUE8T  OF   MKXICO: 


battery  swept  fearfully  upon  their  column,  crusliiii^  seven  men 
and  eight  horses  to  death.  But  the  living  puubed  not.  One 
leap,  and  May  was  upon  the  battery.  His  men  followed,  uiul 
the  Mexicans  were  driven  back.  But  the  heroic  La  Vcirii 
rallied  them  to  the  charge,  and  once  more  seized  their  pieces. 
Thus  charge  after  charge  was  made  until  only  the  Mexiciin 
general  was  left  at  the  guns.  Surrounded  with  piles  of  dead, 
grim  with  powder  and  smoke,  he  rallied  his  troops  to  duty, 
and  faced  hi.s  fierce  enemies  unmoved.  In  the  act  of  discliarir- 
ing  a  piece.  May  ordered  him  to  surrender,  and  finding  further 
resistance  vain,  he  complied."  But  the  struggle  did  not  end 
here.  The  battalion  under  Tampico,  made  a  charge  for  the 
purpose  of  retaking  their  artillery,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
contest  raged  along  the  whole  line.  The  Mexicans,  from  the 
chaparral  hedges,  were  pouring  an  effective  fire  upoji  the 
Americaui^,  and  in  the  wild  effort  to  rout  the  enemy  from  this 
position,  the  artillery  ceased,  •  And  now  the  brave  soldiers 
rushed  forward  to  the  charge.  The  fight  became  desperate, 
and  Americans  and  Mexicans  were  mixed  in  thrilliny;  disorder. 
The  bayonet  was  freely  used,  and  from  this  the  enemy  turned 
slowly,  and  stubbornly  away.  Gen.  Arista's  camp  and  head- 
quarters had  been  taken,  but  the  Tampico  battalion  still  defied 
till!  march  of  the  Americans.  The  brave  men  in  this  force 
held  out  until  tliey  were  literally  cut  down.  The  standard- 
bearer  tore  the  Hag  from  the  staff,  and  Hed,  but  even  this  last 
man  was  taken  prisoner,  and  his  flag  carried  away  by  the 
victors.  The  retreat  of  the  Mexicans  now  became  general,  and 
the  artillery  having  advanced  to  the  action,  it  opened  upon  the 
fleeing  ranks  with  shoctking  effect. 

Six  thoiisajid  Mexicans  opposed  seventeen  hundred  Ameri- 
cans in  this  battle,  yet  after  all,  so  brave  and  superior  were  our 
men  that  tlin  six  thousand  were  completely  routed,  and  every- 
thing in  their  camp  was  captured.  One  thousand  Mexicans 
were  killed,  while  the  loss  of  the  Americans  did  not  exceed 
one  hundred. 

But  who  shall  describe  the  scene  on  this  battlefield  on  the 
night  of  the  ninth?  When  darkness  gathered  over  Tlesacado 
ll  Pajnia,  hundreds  of  wounded,  dying,  and  dead,  pale  and  stiff, 


OR,    TriK    BORDER    WARS   OK   TWO   CKNTtntlia. 


447 


or  howling  in  the  ngonicri  of  mortality,  lay  upon  the  ground. 
In  the  awful  struggle  and  Hight  hundreds  had  been  erushed 
down  beneath  the  feet  of  the  confused  artillery,  and  men  were 
writhing  in  a  most  horrible  condition.  But  such  are  the  results 
of  war,  and  such  were  the  results  of  General  Taylor's  second 
victory  over  the  ^lexicans. 

Tlie  American  army  now  returned  to  the  river  fort,  opposite 
Matiiinoras,  and  thence  to  Point  Isabel,  where  arrangements 
were  soon  completed  for  an  attack  upon  Matamoras.  On  the 
eigiiteenth  he  summoned  the  city  to  surren<ler,  and  received  for 
au  answer  that  he  might  enter  Matamoras  without  opposition.* 
Gen.  Taylor  accordingly  took  possession  of  the  city,  and 
appointed  Col.  Twiggs  to  the  olhce  of  its  Military  Governor. 
Gen.  Arista,  with  his  army,  had  retired  on  the  previous  night. 
The  small  town  of  Barita,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
was  also  occupied  by  the  Americans. 

But  no  sooner  had  Gen.  Taylor  achieved  this  victory  than  he 
seemed  to  be  visital  by  a  series  of  troubles.  Although  he  had 
unfurled  the  flag  of  the  United  States  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  yet  his  forces  and  military  stores  were  so  small 
that  he  was  obliged  to  remain  inactive  during  nearly  the  whole 
suniiner.  "When  re-enforcements  were  sent  him,  they  were 
entirely  without  means  of  transportation,  and  being  inexperi- 
enced volunteers,  many  of  them  were  unfit  for  important  duty, 
.ring  this  inactivity  of  the  Americans,  the  Mexicans  were 
recruiting  their  strength  for  another  struggle. 

Gen.  Taylor  was  compelled  to  remain  quiet  until  the  fifth 
of  September,  when,  with  a  large  army,  he  inarched  for  the 
interior.  Previous  to  this  date,  however,  the  towns  of  Mier, 
Caniargo,  Serai vo,  and  Reynosa  had  been  occupied  by  Ameri- 
can troops.  Taylor  had  not  proceeded  far  when  he  received 
intelligence  from  Gen.  Worth  that  large  re-enforcements  of  the 
enemy  were  daily  arriving  at  Monterey,  the  capital  city  of  the 
northern  division  of  Mexico.  He  therefore  set  out  for  that 
place  without  delay,  leaving  Gen.  Patterson  in  command  on  the 
Rio  Grande.  Taylor's  first  aim  was  to  join  Worth  at  Seralvo. 
He  reached  this  place  in  due  time,  where  he  rested  his  army 


TS^ 


448 


CONQUKST   OF    MKXIUO: 


for  several  days.     On  tlie  eiglitetMith,  liowever,  they  were  at 
Walnut  Sprin<jf8,  three  miles  from  the  capital. 

At  this  time  Monterey,  the  capital  of  New  Leon,  contained 
about  fifteen  thousand  inhabitants.  Beinjjj  situated  near  the 
base  of  the  grand  moun*;ain  range  called  the  Sierra  Madi'e,  par- 
allel to  which  runs  the  Arroya  San  Juan,  it  possessed  all  the 
advantages  tor  a  defensive  warfare.  In  front,  and  to  the  right 
of  the  t<»wn,  a  strong  and  extensive  fortress  known  as  the  cita- 
del, had  for  some  time  been  erected.  It  covered  an  area  of 
about  three  acres,  the  walls  being  of  solid  masonry,  thick  and 
Jiigh,  with  bastions  commanding  all  approaches  from  the  north- 
east, the  north,  and  northwest.  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  city 
were  several  redoubts.  Near  the  outskirts  on  the  southwest  of 
the  city  were  two  large  forts  on  the  course  of  the  Aroya  San 
Juan,  and  on  the  opposite  side  ot  the  river,  and  also  on  tin;  Sal- 
tillo  road,  the  heights  wera  crowned  by  two  strong  fortitications. 
Tli>.  latter  was  known  as  the  Bishop's  Palace.  These  well-con- 
structed defenses  were  mounted  with  forty-two  heavy  cannon. 
In  the  city  itself  were  also  many  sources  of  defense.  The  stone 
walls  of  the  houses  rose  some  distance  above  the  root's,  thus 
allbrding  good  parapets.  Gen.  Ampudia  was  at  this  time  in 
the  city  with  an  army  of  eight  thousand  regular  troops,  and 
over  a  thousand  militia,  with  an  abundant  supply  of  arms  and 
ammunition. 

Gen.  Taylor  established  his  camp  at  "Walnut  Springs,  three 
miles  from  Monterey,  and  determined  to  approach  the  city  by 
way  of  the  Saltillo  road.  He  ordered  a  close  reconnoisaiiceof 
this  route,  which  strengthened  his  determination,  and  he  at 
once  sent  a  column  forward  to  turn  the  works  of  the  enemy  in 
that  direction.  Gen.  Worth  commanded  the  detachment  sent 
on  this  expedition,  and  marched  on  the  twentieth.  His  move- 
ment was  soon  discovered  by  the  enemy.  The  following  is  his 
own  account  of  the  contest  which  engaged  the  division  under 
him:  ' 

"My  instructions  were  by  o, detour  to  the  right,  to  endeavor 
to  find  and  reach  the  Saltillo  road,  efiTsct  a  thorough  reconnois- 
sance  of  the  approaches  to  the  city  from  that  direction,  to  cut 


I 

OR,    THK    BORDEH   WARS   OF  TWO   0ENTITHIK8. 


44!» 


thoy  were  at 

,eon,  contained 
uated  near  the 
rra  Mad  re,  par- 
)S8e88etl  all  the 
ud  to  the  ri«,'ht 
)vvn  a3  the  cita- 
ered  an  area  of 
lonrv,  thick  and 
from  the  north- 
1  side  of  the  city 
the  southwest  of 
t'  the  Aroya  San 
I  also  on  tho  Sal- 
,ng  fortifications. 

These  well-con- 
'O  heavy  cannon. 
'ense.  The  stone 
ve  the  roofs,  thus 
Is  at  this  time  in 

ular  troops,  and 
oply  of  arms  and 

[ut  Springs,  three 
wach  the  city  by 
reconnoisanceof 
lation,  and  he  at 
of  the  enemy  in 
detachment  sent 
hetli.     His  move- 
lie  following  is  his 
lie  division  under 

ight,  to  endeavor 

lorough  reconnois- 

direction,  to  cut 


off  supplies  and  re-enforcements,  and,  if  practicable,  carry  the 

heights. 

"•  Owing  to  the  difRcnlties  of  the  ground  after  leaving  the 
Morin^  and  before  striking  the  Presquina  Grande  road,  the 
divi.sion  had  reached  only  six  miles,  in  consequence  of  the  delay 
in  making  the  route  practicable  for  artillery,  which  service  was 
performed  by  Capt.  Sanders,  at  six  o'clock  i".  m.,  and  was  halted 
just  without  the  range  of  a  gun  battery  on  the  summit  of  an 
isolated  hill  called  Lorna  de  Independencia,  midway  on  the 
ascent  of  which  was  the  Bishop's  Palace.     Thence  a  rec^onnois- 
sance  was  made,  under  cover  of  detachments  of  Hay's  Texans, 
to  the  intersection  of  the  Presquina  Grande  route,  then  in  our 
possession,  with  the  Saltillo  road.     This  examination  resulted 
in  the  conviction  that  the  grounds  in  our  front  and  on  our  left, 
in  advance,  constituted  at  the  same  time  the  weak  and  the 
strong  points  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  entered  mainly  into 
the  defenses  of  the  city — the  weak  point,  because  commanding 
the  (jnly  lines  of  retreat  and  of  supply  in  the  direction  of  Sal- 
tillo, and  controling  that  in  the  direction  of  Presquina  Grande; 
the  strong  point,  because  of  the  peculiarly  defensive  character 
of  the  hills  and  gorges,  and  of  the  very  careful  and  skillful  man- 
ner in  which  they  had  been  fortified  and  guarded.     It  was  also 
clearly  indicated  that  our  further  advance  would  be  strenuously 
ret*istod. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-iirst,  the  division  was  put 
in  motion,  and  with  such  formation  as  to  present  the  readiest 
order  of  battle,  on  a'ly  point  of  assault.  At  six  the  advan(;e, 
consisting  of  llay'^j  Texaiis,  supported  by  the  light  coin[)anies, 
first  brigade,  under  Capt.  C.  F.  Smith  (both  extended  as  the 
valley  widened  or  contracted),  closely  followed  by  Duncan's 
light  artillery  and  battallion,  heads  of  columns,  on  turning  an 
angle  of  the  mountain  at  a  hacienda  called  San  Jeronimo, 
caine  u])on  si  strong  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  mostly  the 
former.  A  conflict  immediately  ensued.  The  Texans  received 
the  heavy  charge  of  cavalry  with  their  unerring  rifles  and  usual 
gallantry;  the  light  companies  opened  a  rapid  and  well-directed 
fire;  Duncan's  battery  was  in  action  in  one  minute  (promptly 
supported  by  a  section  of  Mackall's),  delivering  its  tire  over  the 
29 


460 


roNQUKST    OF   MEXICX): 


beads  of  our  men.  Ere  the  close  of  the  coitihat,  which  lasted 
but  iifteen  minutes,  the  First  hri<(ade  had  formed  to  the  front, 
on  the  ri^ht  and  left,  and  delivered  its  fire.  The  Second  brig- 
ade wa8  hold  in  reserve,  the  ground  not  admitting  of  its 
deployment.  The  enemy  retired  in  disorder  (leaving  on  the 
ground  one  hundred  killed  and  wounded;  among  the  former, 
Don  Juan  N.  Najua,  colonel  of  the  permanent  regiment  of 
laiieerrt),  upon  the  Saltillo  road,  and  was  closely  pursued,  until 
we  got  possession  of  the  gorge,  where  all  the  dehouche»  from 
Monterey  unite,  whereby  the  force  just  defeated,  as  also  rein- 
forccmentrt  and  supplies  from  that  direction,  were  excluded 
from  entering  the  city..  At  this  important  point  the  division 
was  halted,  and  attention  directed  to  the  mountain  forts  which 
envelope  the  city  on  its  western  and  southwestern  faces.  Soon 
discovering,  however,  that  our  position  brought  us  within 
eftective  range  of  the  batteries,  the  troops  were  advanced  sonif 
eight  hundred  yards  further  on  the  Saltillo  road. 

"The  examination  thus  far  had  manifested,  besides  tiic 
imj>ortance  of  the  positions,  the  impracticability  of  any  effect 
ive  operations  against  the  city,  until  possessed  of  the  exterior 
forts  and  batteries.  Independent,  however,  of  ultorior  objects, 
the  occupation  of  these  heights  becan.e  indispensible  to  the 
rest  >ration  of  our  lines  of  communication  with  headquarters, 
necessarily  abiudoned  for  the  moment  in  order  to  secure  the 
gorges  of  the  Saltillo  road.  At  twelve  m.  a  force  was  detached 
under  Capt.  0.  F.  Smith,  with  orders  to  storm  the  batteries  on 
the  crest  of  the  nearest  hill,  called  Federaclon,  and  after  taking 
that,  to  carry  the  fort  called  Soldada^on  the  ridge  of  the  same 
height,  retired  abt)ut  six  hundred  yards.  The  two  effectually 
guarded  the  slopes  and  roads  in  either  valley,  and  couseijuently 
tbe  approaches  to  the  city.  This  couitnaud  consistcMl  of  fonr 
>^nipanies  of  the  artillery  battalion,  and  Green's,  McGowan's, 
R.  A.  Gillespie's,  Chandler's,  Ballone's,  i\nd  Mc(  ■nliocirs  com- 
panies of  Texan  riflemen,  under  Maj.  Ciievalier,  acting  in 
co-operation — in  all  about  three  hundred  effectives.  It  was 
impossible  to  mask  the  movement  of  the  storming  party.  On 
approaching  the  base  of  the  mountain,  the  guns  of  both  batteries 
opened  a  plunging  tire,  and  numerous  light  troops  were  seen 


OB,   THE   BOKDER   WAB8  OF  TWO   CENTUKIIC8. 


461 


;,  which  lasted 
,d  to  the  front, 
e  Second  brig- 
nitting  of  its 
leaving  on  the 
itig  the  former, 
it  regiment  of 

pursued,  until 
debouches  from 
od,  as  also  rein- 

were  exeUidcd 
aint  the  division 
itivin  forts  which 
tern  faces.  Soon 
u«'ht  us  within 
re  advanced  some 

ad. 

jted,  besides  the 
lity  of  any  effect 
sd  of  the  exterior 
f  ultorior  objects, 
lispensible  to  the 
ith  headqimrtcrs, 
rder  to  secure  the 
(■orce  was  detached 
,n  the  batteries  on 
,i,  and  after  taking 
ridge  of  the  same 
jie  two  eifectually 
,  and  cousc'iuently 
consisted  of  fonr 
>en'ft,  McGowan's, 
McC'nlioch'scom- 
Icvalier,   acting  i" 
.ffectives.     H  was 
■ruling  party.    On 
U  of  both  batteries 

It  troops  were  seen 


descending  and  arranging  thoinselves  at  favorable  points  on  the 
elopes.  Perceiving  the  indications  of  determined  rosistanco, 
Capt.  MiloH  was  detached  from  the  Seventh  to  support  and  co- 
operate with  the  first  party. 

"In  a  short  time  the  iire  became  general,  the  enemy  gradu- 
ally  yielding  and  retiring  up  the  rugged  acclivity,  and  our 
men  as  steadily  pursuing.     The   appearance  of  heavy  rein> 
forcemcnts  on  the  summit,  and  tlie  cardinal  importance  of  tho 
operation  demanding  further  support,  the  fifth  under  Major 
Scott,  and  Blanchard's  companies  of  volunteers  were  immedi- 
ately   detached,   accompanied   by    Brigadier-General    Smithy 
who  was  instructed  to  take  direction  in  that  quarter.     Oix 
reaching  the  advance  parties,  General  Smith  discovered  that 
under  favor  of  the  ground,  he  could,  by  directing  a  portion 
of  the  force  to  the  right,  and  moving  it  obliquely  up  the  hill, 
carry  tho   Soldada  simultaneously  with  the  Federacion.    Ho 
accordingly   very  judiciously  pointed  and   accompanied   tho 
fifth,  seventh,  and   Blanchard's   company  in   that  direction. 
Captain  Smith's  command  having  most  gallantly  carried  tho 
first  object  of  attack,  promptly  turned  tho  captured  gun  —  a 
nine-pounder — upon  the  second,  and  moved  on  with  his  main 
body  to  participate  in  tho  assault  on  Soldada,  which  was  carried 
in  gallant  stylo  by  tho  forces  under  Scott,  Miles,  Blanchavd, 
and  Hays  (who  had  been  detached  on  special  service,  but  who 
returned  in  time  to  share  with  fifty  of  his  men  in  tho  first 
assault,  and  to  take  a  prominent  part  in  the  second),  the  wholo 
directed  by  General  Smith. 

"At  this  point  we  secured  another  nine-pounder,  and  imme- 
diately both  pieces  were  brought  to  bear  upon  tho  Bishop's 
Palace,  situated  upon  and  midway  tho  southern  slope  of  tho 
hill  Independencia,  a  valley  of  only  six  hundred  yards  inter- 
vening. We  had  now  secured  an  important  advantage,  and 
yet  but  half  the  work  was  done.  The  possession  of  these 
lieights  only  made  the  more  apparent  the  controlling  import- 
ance of  those  opposite,  and  tho  necessity  of  occupying  the 
palace.  A  violent  storm  ensued,  and  night  closing  in,  opera- 
tions for  the  day  ceased.  The  troops  had  now  been  thirty-six 
hours  without  food,  and  constantly  tasked  to  the  utmost  physical 


453 


n)y^.  KHT  OF  MKXido: 


i'xortions.  Such  hh  could  Ix)  permitted  Hlopt  with  artuH  in 
hand,  Huhjuctod  to  a  pcltiti^  Mtorrn,  and  without  covcriiij^  till 
three  a.  m.,  whoii  they  were  arouHed  to  carry  the  hill  I  rule- 
pendciicia. 

*'  Lieut.-Col.  Ciiilds  was  asRJf^nod  to  lead  tlHiBiorining  partios, 
conrtintin^  of  three  coinpanieB,  I  and  d  (t'otirth),  and  A,  (third 
artillery  hattalion;)  three  coinpanieH  eighth  infaritry,  (A,  H. 
and  I),)under  Capt.  tv-riven,  with  two  hundred  Texan  rltleinen, 
under  Col.  I  lays  and  Lieut.-('ol.  Walker  (captain  of  rith's), 
acting  in  co-operation.  The  coinnmml  moved  at  three,  con- 
ducted to  itrt  point  of  aacent  hy  ('apt.  Sanderrt,  military,  and 
Lieut.  Meade,  top(>:;raplii(!al  engineers.  Favored  by  the 
weather,  it  reached  hy  the  dawn  of  day  within  about  one 
hundred  yunlH  <)f  thecrcHt,  in  whicli  poHition,  anionj^  the  clefts 
of  rocks*,  a  Ixtdy  of  the  enemy  had  hw^n  ntutioned  tlu;  pnvions 
evening  in  apparent  anticipation  of  the  attack.  The  eiieniyV 
retreatinjif  tire  was  ineffectual,  and  not  returne<l  until  ('ol. 
Child's  and  Hays'  command  had  reached  to  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  summit,  when  a  well-directed  and  (h.'structive  fire,  fol- 
lowed hy  the  1)ayonet  of  the  regulars  and  rush  of  the  Ttxans, 
placed  us  in  po8se8»i()n  of  the  work;  the  cannon  havinif  hvm 
previously  withdrawn,  no  impression  could  be  made  uj)oii  thu 
massive  walls  of  the  palace  or  its  outworks,  without  artillm, 
except  at  enormous  eacritice. 

"Lieut.  Kowland,  of  Duncan's  battery,  was  ordered  from 
the  main  rank  with  a  twelve-poun<l  howitzer,  and  in  two 
hours  (aided  by  tifty  men  from  the  line,  under  ('apt.  Sunders, 
military  engineer,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  the  route  loiist 
difficult)  that  enterprising  and  gallant  otticer  had  his  guns  in 
position,  having  ascended  an  acclivity  as  rugged  as  steep, 
between  seven  and  eight  hundred  feet  in  two  Jiours.  A  tire 
was  immediately  opened  from  the  howitzer,  covered  by  the 
e]):uilottient  of  the  ca])tured  battery,  upon  the  palace  and  its 
outworks,  four  hundred  yards  distant,  and  soon  produced  a  visible 
sensation.  Meanwhile,  to  re-enforce  the  position,  the  tit'th, 
Major  Scott  and  Blanchard's  volunteers,  had  been  passed  fi'oiu 
the  iirst  heights,  and  reached  the  second  in  time  to  participate 
in  the  operations  against  the  palace. 


OK.   TICK   IIOKDKK   WAKH  OF  TWO   (TKN-HTKIRM. 


468 


with  anuH  in 
it  ttoverinj?  till 
the  hill  liulu- 

oriiiinj?  ]mrtie«, 
),  ami  A,  (tliinl 
nfrtiitry,  (A,  H. 
Texan  ritleinoii, 
t])tain  of  ritlt'rtK 
li  at  thri'i',  oon- 
ft,  military,  mid 
'ttVore(i  hy  the 
ithi"  about  one 
iiinong  tlu'  clefts 
netl  the  pnvious 
k.  The  eiieinyV 
iirnetl  until  Col. 
ithin  a  few  yards 
»triictive  tire,  tol- 
di  of  the  Texans, 
iiion  hrtviiiv;  1)W'" 
)e  iniide  u)>on  the 
without  artillery, 

^as  ordered  from 
;zer,  and    in   t^^'<^ 
er  Tapt.  Sanders, 
n<r  the  route  least 
r  had  his  f,'inis  in 
ru<'<ijed  as  feteep, 
wo  1  lours.    A  tire 
r,  covered  by  the 
le  palace  and  its 
.produced  a  visible 
,osition,  the  tifth, 
been  passed  imn 
;ime  to  participate 


**  After  many  affairb  of  lif^lit  tro<»p8  and  euvoral  tbintfi,  a 
heavy  itortiu  wan  made,  HUHtuined  hy  a  Htron^  uorpH  of  cavalry, 
with  dvHperato  ruHolution,  to  repoHttvHH  tliu  heiglits.     Such  a 
move   had  been   anticipated   and    prepared    for.     Liuut.CoK 
ChildK    hud   advanced   under   cover,  two  eonipanies  of  li^flit 
troopH  under  tlie  command  of  Oapt.  Vinton,  acting  major,  an<l 
jiKliciouKly  <lrawn  up  the  main  body  oi'  \m  command,  tlanked 
«'U  the  right  by   llayH,  and  left   by   WulkerV  TexaiiH.     The 
tMieujy  advanced  bohlly,  wan  rcpulHcd  by  one  general  diseliargo 
ti\»iu  all  arniH,  lied  in  confuHion,  cloHcly  preisHcd  by  ('hihlH  ami 
lliiys,  preceded  by  the  light  troopH  under  Vinton;  and  while 
thty  tied  })a8t,  our  troops  entered  the  palace  and  fort.     In  a 
tew  Mi(»ments  the  unpretending  flag  of  our  union  had  replaced 
tlic  gaudy  standard  of  Mexico.     The  captured  gnna — one  six- 
inch  liovvitzer,  one  twelve,  and   two  nine-pounder  brass  guns, 
to^'ctlier  with    Duncan's  an<l    Mackall's  tield-batteries,  vvliich 
laine  up  at  a  galloj),  were  in  full  and  ettcctive  play  upon  the 
retiring  and  confused  masses  tliat  tilled  the  street  (of  which 
we  had  the  prolongation)  leading  to    the  nearest  plaza.  La 
Vapella,   also   crowded    with  troo])S.     At    this   moment   the 
enemy's  loss  was  heavy.     The  investment  was  now  complete. 
Ex('e])t  tlie  forces  necessary  to  hold   the  positions  on  In<le])en- 
dencia  and  serve  the  guns  (shifted  to  points  wliere  the  shot 
(uuld  be  made  to  readi  the  great  plaza),  the  division  was  now 
concentrated    around  the   palace,    and   preparation   made   to 
iissiinlt  the  city  on   the  following  day,  or  sooner,  should  tlie 
genoral-in-chief  either  so  direct,  or,  before  communication  be 
had,  renew  the  assaidt  from  the  opposite  quarter,     in  the  mean 
time  attention  was  directed  to  every  provision  our  circum- 
stances permitted,  to  alleviate  the  condition  of  our  wounded 
soldiers  and  otiicers;  to  the  decent  interment  of  the  dead,  not 
(iniitting  in  either  respect  all   that  was  due  to  those  of  the 
enemy. 

"About  ten  A.  M.,  on  the  twenty-third,  a  heavy  tire  was 
heard  in  the  opposite  quarter.  Its  magnitude  and  ct>ntiuu- 
ance,  as  well  as  other  circumstances,  did  not  permit  a  doubt 
that  the  general  was  conducting  a  main  attack;  and  that  l.'is 
orders  for  my  co-operation  (having  to  travel  a  circuit  of  some 


454 


covqtmn  or  micxioo: 


■ix  miles)  hnd  iiiiHcarriocl  or  failed  to  roach  mo,  hy  mcnni  of 
the  numuruuH  cavalry  of  tho  otunny.  IJndor  thuMO  conviutioni, 
the  troopH  wuro  ingtantly  ordered  to  conimonce  an  operation, 
which,  if  not  otherwiHo  directed,  I  hud  doHJf^ntHl  to  cxccuto  in 
part,  iindor  favor  of  tho  night.  Two  coluinnH  of  attack  woro 
organized,  to  move  along  the  two  principal  gtntots,  leadiiijii; 
from  our  poHition,  in  direction  of  tho  great  plaza,  compuHcd 
of  light  troopH  HJightly  extended,  with  orders  to  maj«k  tho 
men  whenever  practit^ahle,  avoid  thoso  points  swept  by  tlio 
cnemy'H  artillory,  to  press  on  to  tho  fir«t  plaza,  (^apella,  to  got 
hold  of  tho  endtt  of  streets  beyond,  then  enter  tho  buiidjjigg, 
and  by  meatiH  of  picks  and  bars  break  through  tho  longitu- 
dinal section  of  the  walls,  work  from  house  to  houac,  and 
nsecnding  the  roofs,  to  place  themselves  on  the  same  brcaHt- 
height  with  the  enemy.  Light  artillery  by  sections  and  pieces, 
utider  Duncan,  Roland,  Mackall,  Martin,  Hays,  Irons,  C>larkc, 
and  (1urd,  followed  at  suitable  intervals,  covered  by  reaorves  to 
guard  the  pieces  and  the  whole  operation  against  tho  prohublo 
enterprises  of  cavalry  upon  our  left.  This  was  eftectually  done 
bv  seizing  and  commanding  tho  head  of  every  cross  Htrcet. 
The  streets  were,  at  different  and  well-chosen  points,  barri- 
caded by  heavy  masonry  walls,  with  embrasures  for  one  or 
more  guns,  and.  in  every  instance  well  supported  by  cross  bat- 
teries. These  arrangements  of  defense  gave  to  our  operations 
at  this  moment  a  complicated  character,  demanding  njiicli  care 
and  precaution;  but  the  work  went  on  steadily,  Hlmultanc- 
ously,  and  successfully.  About  the  time  our  assault  coin- 
inenced,  the  lire  ceased  from  our  force  in  tho  opposite  quarter. 
Disengaged  on  the  one  side,  tho  enemy  was  enaulod  to  flliit\ 
men  and  guns  to  our  quarter,  as  was  soon  manifested  by  accu- 
mulation of  tire.  At  dark  we  had  worked  through  tho  walls 
and  squares,  an*d  reached  to  within  one  block  of  the  great 
plaza,  leaving  a  covered  way  in  our  rear — carried  a  largo  build- 
ing which  towered  over  the  principal  defenses,  and  during  the 
night  and  ensuing  morning,  crowned  its  roof  with  two  howit- 
zers and  a  six-pounder.  All  things  were  now  prepared  to 
renew  tho  assault  at  dawn  of  day,  when  a  flag  was  sent  out, 


OR,  T1IR  mmnKR  warm  or  two  mcirrtrRini. 


4RR 


Mking  a  inoiiu'iitary  HiiHpiMiHion  of  tii*o,  which  led  to  tho  uupi< 
tiilution  upun  teriiiM  ho  hoiiorulilu  to  our  nniii. 

*' Ah  tho  cohnntiH  of  attuck  wcru  moving  from  tho  pnhiue 
hill,  Major  Muiiroc,  cliiff  of  iirtiliery,  rnichcd  me  with  a  ton- 
inch  mortar,  whicli  wuh  immcdiiitoly  udvuiici'd  to  tho  plu/u, 
ehapcl,  put  ill  pohitioii  maHkud  hy  tho  church  wiill,  \U  bod 
adjiiHtt'd  HH  rupidly  U8  poHHihh',  and  i)y  MUiiHot  opvnod  upon  the 
gi'fut  H(|uaro.  At  thiM  peri(Ml,  our  troopH  had  workod  to  with* 
in  on«j  H(|uaro  of  tho  phi/a;  tho  oxact  poHition  of  our  cornradoM, 
on  tho  opposito  sidu,  wan  not  known,  and  tlio  distaiico  of  tho 
[xmition  to  ho  aHHaih'd  by  tlio  hoint)  hattory,  hut  i-oiiji>ct\iring 
('i^ht  liundrod  }ardH  waH  asHumod,  and  tho  tu/.o  and  char^o 
ri'^'ulatcd  accordingly;  tho  Hrnt  Hhell  foil  a  littlo  nhort  of  tho 
point  on  wiiich  it  waH  directed,  and  hoMi<lo  our  troopa;  a  nli^ht 
increutfO  of  the  j)rojoctinj^  chrtr^o  pravo  oxact  roHultH.  Tho 
wliolo  Rcrvico  waa  managed  hy  Major  Munroe,  most  admira- 
bly, and,  combined  with  other  oporationH,  cxorcihcd  a  deci(h>d 
iiithienco  ti])on  tiio  tituil  roHultH,  Early  on  tho  morning  of  tho 
twcnty-tinrd,  Major  Brown's  artillery  battallion  waw  des- 
{mtclicd  with  a  Molect  eomnumd,  and  one  Hoction  of  Mackairs 
battery,  under  Lieut.  Irons,  to  occupy  tho  Htom;  mill  and 
mljucent  grounds,  coiistitutinji;,  one  league  in  advance,  the 
iiiirrosv  gorge  near  St.  C/atariiui.  The  major  took  poBsession, 
repulsed  tho  enemy's  pickets,  and  was  preparing  his  eomnumd 
to  resist  any  attack,  when  lie  received  my  ordt^rs  to  retrace  his 
stops,  enter  the  city,  and  form  the  main  reserve  to  the  iissault- 
iii<i;  columns.  Jle  came  up  in  good  time  and  in  good  order, 
iind  was  at  once  under  fire. 

"On  the  twenty-tifth,  in  conformity  to  tho  articles  of  capit- 
ulati(»n,  tho  citadel  M'as  taken  possession  of  by  a  eomnumd 
consisting  of  two  comj)anics  of  each  regiment,  and  one  section 
of  each  battery,  second  division.  Gen.  Smith  was  directed 
to  tiike  command  of  this  corps,  and  conduct  tho  ceremony; 
wliich  duty  lie  executed  with  delicacy  to  the  unliappy  and 
huiniliated  foe. 

Let  us  now  read  Gen.  Taylor's  account  of  his  operations  in 
co-operation  with  tho  division  under  Gen.  Worth: 

"Early  on  tho  morning  of  tho  twenty -first,  I  received  a  note 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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450 


ooNQUKfiT  or  MEXIOO: 


i. 


from  Gen.  Worth,  written  at  lialf-past  nine  o'clock  tie  night 
before,  suggesting  what  I  had  already  intended,  a  strong  divur- 
Bioii  against  the  center  and  left  of  the  town,  to  favor  his  enter- 
prise tigainst  the  heights  in  the  rear.  Tiie  infantry  and  artil- 
ler;y  of  the  first  division,  and  the  field  division  of  volunteers, 
wtre  ordered  under  arms,  and  took  the  direction  of  the  city, 
leaving  one  company  of  each  regiment  as  a  camp  guard.  Tlie 
second  dragoons,  under  Lieut.-Col.  May,  and  Col.  Wood's  reg- 
iment of  Texas  mounted  volunteore,  under  the  immediate 
direction  of  Gen.  Henderson,  were  directed  to  the  right  to 
support  Gen.  Worth,  if  necessary,  and  to  make  an  impression, 
if  practicable,  upon  the  upper  quarter  of  the  city.  Upon 
approaching  the  mortar  battery,  the  first  and  third  regiments 
of  infantry,  and  battalion  of  Baltimore  and  Washington  vol- 
unteers, with  Capt.  Bragg's  field  battery — the  whole  under 
the  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Garland — were  directed  towards 
the  lower  part  of  the  town,  with  orders  to  make  a  strong 
demonstration,  and  carry  one  of  the  enemy's  advanced  works, 
if  it  could  bo  done  without  too  heavy  loss.  Major  Mansfield, 
Engineere,  and  Capt.  Williams  and  Lieut.  Pope,  Topographi- 
cal Engineer,  accompanied  this  column.  Major  Mansfield 
being  charged  with  its  direction,  and  the  designation  of  points 
of  attack. 

"  In  the  meantime,  the  mortar,  served  by  Capt.  Ramsay,  of 
the  ordnance,  and  the  howitzer  battery  under  Capt.  Webster, 
first  artillery,  had  opened  their  fire  upon  the  citadel,  which  was 
deliberately  sustained,  and  answered  from  the  work.  Gen. 
Butler's  division  had  now  taken  np  a  position  in  the  rear  of 
this  battery,  when  the  discharges  of  artillery,  mingled  finally 
with  a  rapid  fire  of  small  arms,  showed  that  Lieut.-Col.  Gar- 
land's command  had  become  warmly  engaged.  I  now  deemed 
it  necessary  to  support  this  attack,  and  accordingly;  ordered 
the  fourth  infanti*y,  and  three  regiment's  of  Gen.  Butler's 
division,  to  march  at  once,  by  the  left  flank,  in  the  direction  of 
the  advanced  work  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  town,  leaving- 
one  regiment  (first  Kentucky)  to  cover  the  mortar  and  hovvit- 
zer  battery.     By  some  mistake,  two  companies  of  the  fourth 


OR,  THE  BORDER   WAR8  OF  TWO  0BNTURIB8. 


46T 


infantry  did  not  receive  thia  order,  and,  consequently,  did  not 
join  the  advance  companies  until  some  time  afterwards. 

'^  Lieut.-Col.  Garland's  cuinmund  had  approached  the  town 
in  a  direction  to  the  right  of  the  advanced  work  (No.  1,)  at  tlie 
noi'theastern  angle  of  the  city,  alid  the  engineer  officer,  covered 
by  skii'mishers,  had  succeeded  in  entering  the  suburbs  and 
gaining  cover.  The  remainder  of  this  command  now  advanced 
and  entered  the  town  under  a  heavy  lire  of  artillery  from  the 
citadel  and  the  works  on  the  left,  and  of  musketry  from  the 
houses  and  small  works  in  front.  A  movement  to  the  right 
was  attempted,  with  a  view  to  gain  the  rear  of  No.  1,  and  carry 
that  work,  but  the  troops  were  so  much  exposed  to  a  fire  which 
they  could  not  efiTectually  return,  and  had  already  sustained 
such  severe  loss,  particularly  in  officers,  that  it  was  deemed 
best  to  withdraw  them  to  a  more  secure  position.  Gapt. 
Backus,  first  infantry,  however,  with  a  portion  of  his  own  and 
other  companies,  had  gained  the  roof  of  a  tannery,  which 
looked  directly  into  the  gorge  of  No.  1,  and  from  which  he 
poured  a  most  destructive  fire  into  that  work  and  upon  the 
strong  building  in  its  rear.  This  fire  happily  coincided  in 
point  of  time  with  the  advance  of  a  portion  of  the  volunteer 
division  upon  No.  1,  and  contributed  largely  to  the  fall  of  that 
strong  and  important  work. 

"  The  three  regiments  of  the  volunteer  division,  under  the 
immediate  command  of  Major-Gen.  Butler,  Imd,  in  the  mean- 
time, advanced  in  the  direction  of  No.  1.  The  leading  brigade, 
under  Brig.-Gen.  Quitman,  continued  its  advance  upon  that 
work,  preceded  by  three  companies  of  the  fourth  infantry, 
while  Gen.  Butler,  with  the  first  Ohio  regiment,  entered  the 
town  to  the  right.  The  companies  of  the  fourth  infantry  had 
advanced  within  short  range  of  the  work,  when  they  were 
received  by  a  fire  that  almost  in  one  moment  struck  down  one- 
third  of  the  officers  and  men,  and  rendered  it  necessary  to 
retire  and  effect  a  conjunction  with  the  two  other  companies 
then  advancing.  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade,  though  sufferings 
most  severely,  particularly  in  the  Tennessee  regiment,  con- 
tinued its  advance,  and  finally  carried  the  work,  in  handsome 
style,  as  well  as  the  strong  building  in  its  rear.     Five  piecea 


408 


ooNQUEn'  or  mkxioo: 


of  artillory,  a  considerable  supply  of  ammunition,  and  thirty 
prisoners,  including  three  oiticers,  fell  into  our  hands. 

"Major-Gen.  Butler,  with  the  iirst  Ohio  regiment,  after 
entering  the  edge  of  the  town,  discovered  that  nothing  was  to 
be  accomplished  in  his  front,  and  at  this  point,  yielding  to  the 
suggestions  of  several  officers,  I  ordered  a  retrograde  move- 
ment; but  learning  almost  immediately  from  one  of  my  staft' 
that  the  battery  No.  1  was  in  our  possession,  the  order  was 
o/tuntermanded,  and  I  determined  to  hold  the  battery  and 
defenses  already  gained.  Gen.  Butler,  with  the  iirst  Ohio  reg- 
iment, then  entered  the  town  at  a  point  further  to  the  loft,  and 
marched  in  the  direction  of  the  battery  No.  2.  While  making 
nn  examination  with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  possibility  of  car- 
rying this  second  work  by  s^orm,  the  general  was  wounded  and 
soon  after  compelled  to  quit  the  field.  As  the  strength  of  No. 
2,  and  the  heavy  musketry  fire  fianking  the  approach,  rendered 
it  impossible  to  carry  it  without  great  loss,  the  first  Ohio  rcgi- 
mnnt  was  withdrawn  from  the  town. 

"  Fragments  of  the  various  regiments  engaged  were  now 
under  cover  of  the  captured  battery  and  some  buildings  in  its 
front,  and  on  the  right.  The  field  battery  of  Gapts.  Bragg  and 
liidgely  was  also  partially  covered  by  the  battery.  An  inccs- 
SHnt  fire  was  kept  on  this  position  from  battery  No.  2,  and 
other  works  on  its  right,  and  from  the  citadel  on  all  our 
approaches.  Gen.  Twiggs,  though  quite  unwell,  joined  me  at 
this  point,  and  was  instrumental  in  causing  the  artillery  cap- 
tured from  the  enemy  to  be  placed  in  battery,  and  served  by 
Capt.  Ridgely,  against  No.  2,  until  the  arrival  of  Capt.  Web- 
ster's howitzer  battery,  which  took  its  place.  In  the  meantime, 
I  directed  such  men  as  could  be  collected  of  the  first,  third  and 
fourth  regiments  and  Baltimore  battalion,  to  enter  the  town, 
penetrate  to  the  right,  and  carry  the  second  battery  if  possible. 
This  command,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Garland,  advanced  beyond 
the  bridge  '  Purisima,'  when,  finding  it  impracticable  to  gain 
the  rear  of  the  second  battery,  a  portion  of  it  sustained  them- 
selves for  some  time  in  that  advanced  position;  but  as  no 
permanent  impression  could  be  made  at  that  point,  and  the 
main  object  of  the  general  operation  had  been  efiected,  the 


OR,  THB   'VnDRR   WARS  OF  TWO  CEMTURIBB. 


469 


fbeen  effected,  the 


command,  including  a  section  of  Capt.  Ridgoly's  battery, 
which  had  joined  it,  was  withdrawn  to  battery  No.  1.  During 
the  absence  of  this  cohimn,  a  demonstration  of  cavalry  was 
reported  in  the  direction  of  the  citadel.  Capt.  Bragg,  who 
was  at  hand,  immediately  galloped  with  his  battery  to  a  suita- 
ble position,  from  which  a  few  discharges  effectually  dispersed 
the  enemy.  Capt.  Miller,  first  infantry,  was  dispatched  with  a 
mixed  command  to  support  the  battery  on  this  service.  The 
enemy's  lancers  had  previously  charged  upon  the  Ohio  and 
a  part  of  the  Mississippi  regiments,  near  some  fields  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  edge  of  the  town,  and  had  been  repulsed  with 
considerable  loss.  A  demonstration  of  cavalry  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river  was  also  dispersed  in  the  course  of  the  after- 
noon by  Capt.  Eidgely's  battery,  and  the  squadrons  returned 
to  the  city.  At  the  approach  of  evening  all  the  troops  that  had 
been  engaged  were  ordered  back  to  the  camp,  except  Capt. 
Ridgely's  battery  and  the  regular  infantry  of  the  first  division, 
who  wero  detailed  as  a  guard  for  the  works  during  tlie  night, 
nndcr  command  of  Lient.-Col.  Garland.  One  battalion  of  the 
first  Kentucky  regiment  was  ordered  to  re-enforce  this  com- 
mand. Intrenching  tools  were  procured,  and  additional 
strength  was  given  to  the  works,  and  protection  to  the  men, 
by  working  parties  during  the  night,  under  the  direction  of 
Lieut.  Scarritt,  Engineers. 

"  The  main  object  proposed  in  the  morning  had  been  effected. 
A  powerful  diversion  had  been  made  to  favor  the  operations  of 
the  second  division,  one  of  the  enemy's  advanced  works  had 
been  carried,  and  we  now  had  a  strong  foothold  in  the  town. 
But  this  had  not  been  accomplished  without  a  very  heavy  loss, 
embracing  some  of  our  most  gallant  and  accomplished  oflicers. 
Capt.  Williams,  Topographical  Engineers;  Lieuts.  Terrettand 
Dilworth,  first  infantry ;  Lieut.  Woods,  second  infantry;  Capts. 
Morris  and  Field,  Brevet  Major  Barbour,  Lieuts.  Irwin  and 
Hazlitt,  third  infantry;  Lieut.  Hoskins,  fourth  infantiy;  Lieut- 
Col.  Watson,  Baltimore  battalion;  Capt.  Allen  and  Lieut.  Put- 
nam, Tennessee  regiment,  and  Lieut.  Hett,  Ohio  regiment, 
were  killed,  or  have  since  died  of  wounds  received  in  this 
engagement,  while  the  number  and  rank  of  the  oflicers  wounded 


460 


00MQCE8T  OF  MEXICO : 


gives  additional  proof  of  the  obstinacy  of  the  content,  and  the 
good  conduct  of  our  troops.  Tlie  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  incident  to  the  operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
city  on  the  twenty-iirst,  is  three  hundred  and  ninety-four. 

"  Early  in  the  morning  of  this  day  (twenty -tirst,)  the  advance 
of  the  second  division  had  encountered  the  enemy  in  force,  tiiid 
after  a  brief,  but  sharp  conflict,  repulsed  him  with  heavy  loag. 
Gen  Worth  then  succeeded  in  gaining  a  position  on  the  Sal- 
tillo  road,  thus  cutting  off  the  enemy's  line  of  communication. 
From  this  position  the  two  heights  south  of  the  Saltillu  road 
were  carried  in  succession,  and  the  guns  taken  in  one  of  them 
turned  upon  the  Bishop's  Palace.  These  important  successes 
were  fortunately  obtained  with  comparatively  small  lo«8:  Capt. 
McKavett,  eighth  infantry,  being  the  only  officer  killed. 

"The  twenty-second  of  September  passed  without  any  active 
operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  The  citadel  and  other 
works  continued  to  fire  at  parties  exposed  to  their  range,  and 
at  the  work  now  occupied  by  our  troops.  The  guard  left  in  it 
the  preceding  night,  except  Capt.  Ridgely's  company,  was 
relieved  at  mid -day  by  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade.  Capt.  Bragg's 
battery  was  thrown  under  cover  in  front  of  the  town,  to  repel 
any  demonstration  of  cavalry  in  that  quarter.  At  dawn  of 
day  the  height  above  the  Bishop's  Palace  was  carried,  and  soon 
after  meridian  the  Palace  itself  was  taken,  and  its  guns  turned 
upon  the  fugitive  garrison.  The  object  for  which  the  second 
division  was  detached  had  thus  been  completely  accomplished, 
and  I  felt  confident  that  with  a  strong  force  occupying  the 
road  and  heights  in  his  rear,  and  a  good  position  below  the 
city  in  our  possession,  the  enemy  could  not  possibly  maintain 
the  town. 

"  During  the  night  of  the  owenty-second  the  enemy  evac- 
uated nearly  all  his  defenses  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 
This  was  reported  to  me  early  in  the  morning  of  the  twenty- 
third,  by  Gen.  Quitman,  who  had  already  meditated  an  assault. 
upon  those  works.  I  immediately  sent  instructions  to  that 
ofticer,  leaving  it  to  his  discretion  to  enter  the  city,  covering 
his  men  by  the  houses  and  walls,  and  advance  carefully  so  far 
as  he  might  deem  prudent. 


Jit^ 


4  ^ 


OK,   THE   DORDKR  WAm  OF  TWO  OKNTURIRS. 


461 


s  company,  was 


"  After  ordering  the  remainder  of  the  tro<i))H  as  a  reserve, 
undur  tlie  orders  of  Brig.-Gon.  Twiggs,  I  repaire<l  to  theaban« 
doned  works,  and  discovered  that  a  portion  of  Gen.  Quitman's 
brigiide  hod  entered  the  town,  and  were  successfully  forcing 
tlieir  way  towards  the  principal  plaza.     I  then  ordered  up  the 
second  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  who  entered 
thu  city,  dismounted,  and,  under  the  immediate  orders  of  Gen. 
Henderson,  co-Operated  with  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade.    Capt. 
Brugg'i*  battery  was  also  ordered  up,  supported  by  the  third 
infantry,  and  after  firing  for  some  time  at  the  cathedral,  a  por- 
tion of  it  was   likewise   thrown  into  the  city.     Our  troops 
advanced  from  house  to  house,  and  from  square  to  square,  until 
they  reached  a  street  but  one  square  in  the  rear  of  the  princi- 
pal plaza,  in   and  near  which  the  enemy's  force  was  mainly 
concentrated.      This  advance  was  conducted  vigorously,  but 
with  due  caution,  and  although  destructive  to  the  enemy,  was 
attended  with  but  small  loss  on  our  part.     Capt.  liidgely,  in 
the  meantime,  had  served  a  captured  piece  in  battery  No.  1 
against  the  city,  until  the  advance  of  our  men  rendered  it 
imprudent  to  fire  in  the  direction  of  the  Cathedral.     I  was 
uow  satisfied  that  we  could  operate  successfully  in  the  city,  and 
that  the  enemy  had  retired  from  the  lower  portion  of  it  to 
make  a  stand  behind   his  barricades.      As  Gen.  Quitman's 
brigade  had  been  on  duty  the  previous  night,  I  determined  to 
withdraw  the  troops  to  the  evacuated  works,  and  concert  with 
Gen.  Worth  a  combined  attack  upon  the  town.    The  troops 
accordingly  fell  back  deliberately,  in  good  order,  and  resumed 
their  original  positions.  Gen.  Quitman's  brigade  being  relieved 
after  nightfall  by  that  of  Gen.  Hamer.     On  my  return  to 
camp,  I  met  an  officer  with  the  intelligence  that  Gen.  Worth, 
induced  by  the  firing  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  was  about 
making  an  attack  at  the  upper  extremity,  which  had  also  been 
evacuated  by  the  enemy  to  a  considerable  distance.     I  regretted 
that  this  information  had  not  reached  me  before  leaving  the 
city,  but  still  deemed  it  inexpedient  to  change  my  orders,  and 
accordingly  returned   to  camp.     A  note  from  Gen.  Worth, 
written  at  eleven  o'clock  p.  m.,  informed  me  that  he  had 
advanced  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  principal  plaza,  and 


* 


46S 


ooNQuicn'  or  mxzioo: 


i; 


mi 


that  tho  mortar  (which  had  been  sent  to  hin  division  in  the 
morning)  was  doini(  good  execution  within  effective  range  of 
the  enemy's  position. 

"  Desiring  to  make  no  further  attempt  upon  the  city  without 
complete  concert  as  to  the  lines  and  mode  of  approach,  I 
instructed  that  officer  to  suspend  his  advance  until  I  could 
have  an  interview  with  him  on  *.he  following  morning,  at  hii 
headquarters. 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fourth  I  received, 
through  Ool.  Moreno,  a  communication  from  Qen.  Ampudia, 
proposing  to  evacuate  tho  town;  which,  with  the  answer,  were 
forwarded  with  my  first  dispatch.  I  arranged  with  Col.  Moreno 
a  cessation  of  fire  until  twelve  o'clock,  at  which  hour  I  would 
receive  the  answer  of  the  Mexican  general  at  Gen.  Worth's  head- 
quarters, to  which  I  soon  repaired.  In  the  meantime.  Gen. 
Ampudia  had  signified  to  Gen.  Worth  his  desire  for  a  personal 
interview  with  me,  to  which  I  acceded,  and  which  finally 
resulted  in  a  capitulation,  placing  the  town  and  the  materials 
of  war,  with  certain  exceptions,  in  our  possession.  A  copy  of 
that  capitulation  was  transmitted  with  my  first  dispatch. 

"Upon  occupying  the  city  it  was  found  to  be  of  great 
strength  in  itself,  and  to  have  its  approaches  carefully  and 
strongly  fortified.  The  town  and  works  were  anued  with  forty- 
two  pieces  of  cannon,  well  supplied  with  ammunition,  and 
manned  with  a  force  of  at  least  seven  thousand  troops  of  the 
line,  and  from  two  to  three  thousand  irregulars.  The  force 
under  my  orders  before  Monterey,  as  exhibited  by  the  accom- 
panying return,  was  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  ofiicers,  and 
six  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty  men.  Our  artillery 
consisted  of  one  ten-inch  mortar,  two  twenty-four  pounder 
howitzer's,  and  four  light  field  batteries  of  four  guns  each— 
the  mortar  being  the  only  piece  suitable  to  the  operations  of  a 
siege. 

"  Our  loss  is  twelve  ofiicers  and  one  hundred  and  eight  men 
killed;  thirty-one  officers  and  three  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
men  wounded.  That  of  the  enemy  is  not  known,  but  is  believed 
considerably  to  exceed  our  own. 

**  I  take  pleasure  in  bringing  to  the  notice  of  the  govern- 


II 


OB,   Tni   OOBDKH    WAKN   or  TWU   ('iCN'riIKIICB. 


468 


division  in  the 
footive  range  of 

the  city  without 

of  approach,  I 

;e  until  I  could 

morning,  at  hit 

arth  I  received, 
Gen.  Ampudia, 
the  answer,  were 
vith  Col.  Moreno 
ch  hour  I  would 
BD.  Worth's  head- 
meantime.  Gen. 
jire  for  a  personal 
id  which  finally 
md  the  materials 
sion.     A  copy  of 
'st  dispatch. 
I  to  be  of  great 
les  carefully  and 
janiied  with  forty- 
ammunition,  and 
knd  troops  of  the 
[ulars.    The  force 
id  by  the  accom- 
•five  officers,  and 
.     Our  artillery 
nty-four  pounder 
four  guns  each— 
le  operations  of  a 

^d  and  eight  men 

and  thirty-seven 

m,  but  is  believed 

of  the  govern- 


ment the  good  conduct  of  the  troops,  both  regulars  and 
volunteera,  which  has  been  conspicuous  throughout  the  opera- 
tions. I  am  proud  to  bear  testimony  to  their  coolness  and 
constancy  in  battle,  and  the  cheerfulness  with  which  they  iiave 
submitted  to  exposure  and  privation.  To  the  general  officers 
commanding  divisions — Maj.-Geiis.  Butler  and  Henderson,  and 
Brig.  Gens.  Twiggs  and  Worth — I  must  exprens  my  obligations 
for  the  efficient  aid  which  they  have  rendered  in  their  respective 
commands." 

Tlie  following  sketch  of  a  portion  of  the  engagement,  fVom 
the  pen  of  an  officer  in  a  Baltimore  battalion,  who  participated 
in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of 
the  sufferings  endured,  and  gallantry  evinced  by  many  of  tho 
companies: 

*'  I  saw  Col.  Watson  shouting,  but  as  to  hearing  a  command, 
that  was  an  impossibility,  owing  to  tho  deafening  roar  of  the 
cannon  and  musketry.     I  saw  the  head  of  our  line  changing 
its  direction,  and  I  knew  at  onco  that  tho  point  of  attack  was 
changed,  and  ran  to  the  head  of  my  company  to  intercept  the 
head  of  the  column.     I  reached  it  just  as  Col.  Watson  was 
dismounting  from  his  horse,  which  the  next  moment  fell  from 
a  shot.    The  colonel  cried  out  to  tho  men, '  Shelter  yourselves, 
men,  the  best  way  you  can.'    At  this  time,  the  battalion  was 
scattered  over  a  space  of  about  an  acre,  and  the  men  were  lyir^> 
do^vn,  the  shot  in  most  instances  flying  over  our  heads ;   but 
the  guns  were  soon  depressed  and  the  shot  began  to  take  effect. 
"  I  was  lying  close  to  Col.  Watson,  alongside  of  a  hedge, 
when  he  jumped  up  and  cried  out,  '  Now  is  the  time,  boys, 
follow  rael '    We  were  now  in  a  street,  or  lane,  with  a  few 
houses  on  either  sido,  and  within  a  hundred  yards  of  three  bat- 
teries which  completely  raked  it,  in  addition  to  which,  two 
twelve-pound  guns  were  T>1anted  in  tho  castle  on  tho  right,  and 
completely  enfiladed  the  whole  distance  we  had  to  make.    Add 
to  this  the  thousand  musketeers  on  the  house-tops,  and  in  the 
barricades  at  the  head  of  the  street  up  which  we  advanced,  and 
at  every  cross  street,  and  you  may  form  some  idea  of  the  deluge 
of  balls  that  poured  upon  us.     (Bear  in  mind  that  the  four 
companies  of  regulars  were  now  with  us,  the  one  intermingled 


464 


tx)ii<iuiarr  or  mbzkx): 


m 


K  -'-^ 


tilt  j^:  :.v 


'a. 


with  the  other.)  Onward  we  wont,  men  and  horMw  'riUlnfj^  at 
ovory  Ht«|>.  Cheers,  shrieka,  gnmnH  and  wordi  of  command 
added  to  the  din,  whiUt  tlie  roar  of  the  guni  was  abitohituly 
deafening. 

"  We  had  advanced  up  tlie  itreot  under  this  awful  and  fatal 
fire  nearly  two  hundred  yards,  when  we  reached  a  cross  struct, 
at  the  corner  of  which  all  those  who  had  succeedtnl  in  getting 
this  far  halted,  as  if  by  mutual  consent.  I  was  shaking  Col. 
Watson  hy  the  hand,  while  he  was  complimenting  me,  wlioti  a 
sliower  of  grape,  round  and  canister  shot  came  from  the  corner 
above,  andjfi'f^  officers  fell,  and  I  know  not  how  many  privates. 
Each  man  sought  some  place  of  apparent  shelter. 

"  I  sat  down  on  the  ground,  with  my  back  to  the  wall  of  a 
house.  On  my  loft  were  two  men  torn  nearly  to  pieces.  One 
of  them  was  lying  Hat  on  his  back,  with  his  legs  extdt  <liiif( 
farther  in  the  street  than  mine.  Crash  came  another  tdiower 
of  grape,  which  tore  one  of  his  wounded  legs  off.  He  reared 
up,  shrieked,  and  fell  back  a  corpse.  I  never  moved,  for  I  was 
satisfied  that  one  place  was  as  safe  as  another.  Directly  oppo- 
site to  me  was  my  Brevet  Second-Lieutenant  Aisquith;  on  the 
right  hand  corner  was  Lieut.  Bowie,  also  of  my  company;  and 
close  to  me  sat  Col.  Watson  and  Adjutant  Schooler.  In  a 
few  minutes  I  saw  our  color  sergeant,  old  Hart,  come  past 
with  his  right  arm  shattered,  and  in  a  few  minutes  there  came 
our  battalion  flag,  borne  by  one  of  the  color  guards — our  }f\o- 
rious  stars  and  stripes — and  note  this,  that  it  was  thu  first 
American  flag  in  the  city  of.  Monterey,  an  honor  which  we 
know  belongs  to  our  battalion. 

"  No  man  there  ever  thought  for  a  moment  that  he  would 
get  out  alive,  and  most  of  them  did  not.  The  firing  still  con- 
tinued without  the  slightest  intermission,  whilst  we  remained 
at  this  memorable  corner,  which  was  perhaps  for  fifteen  minutes. 
When  we  were  ordered  to  charge  up  the  street,  a  slight  hesi- 
tation was  manifested  by  both  regulars  and  volunteers,  but  the 
officers  sprang  to  the  front  in  double  file.  We  advanced,  I 
suppose,  about  fifty  "yards,  when  Col.  Garland,  of  tlio  army, 
ordered  us  to  retire.  We  still  advanced,  and  he  again  ordered 
lis  to  retire,  adding  this  time  in  good  order.     I  now  became 


K'    :-::'rs,: 


OR,  TIIK   BOIIDKll   WAM  OF  TWO  OKMTDKim 


465 


)one«  Mling  at 

ds  of  command 

WM  ftbHoliituly 

iiwtul  and  tatnl 
u(l  a  oroM  «truct, 
;eedu<l  in  gutting 
M  Hhaking  ('ol. 
itlng  me,  when  a 
e  from  the  corner 
»w  many  privates. 
Iter. 

to  tlie  wall  of  a 
y  to  piece*.  One 
IB  leg»  extdiding 
5  anotlier  »liower 
^  off.  He  reared 
r  moved,  for  I  was 
Directly  oppo- 

Ai8(iuith;  on  the 
my  company;  and 
,t  Sclioeler.     In  a 

Hart,  come  past 
inutea  there  came 

gnards  — onr  f,'lo- 
it  was  the  tirst 

honor  which  we 

ent  that  he  would 

le  firing  Htill  con- 

lilst  we  remained 

or  fifteen  mi  ntites. 

reet,  a  slight  hesi- 

rohinteors,  but  the 

We  advanced,  I 
and,  of  tlio  army, 

he  again  ordered 
r.     I  now  became 


i«p*rAted  fW>m  Col.  Wataon,  and  never  mw  him  again.  He 
took  the  left  hand  aide  of  the  atroet  and  I  the  right  hand, 
and  when  I  reache<l  the  open  field  whore  he  had  flnit  ordered 
111  to  lie  down,  I  was  joined  by  Lieut.  Alaqulth,  who,  to  my 
inquiry,  aniwered  that  he  had  juat  loft  the  colonel,  and  aup. 
poaed  that  he  would  aoon  be  with  ua.  Seeing  no  other  ofBtter 
around  me,  1  rallied  tlie  batUlion,  and  led  them  down  to  make 
another  attack  upon  the  fort.** 
80 


,-% 


CUAPTKU     LIX. 


Obnnhai.  Tatixir  at  Montrrrt  —  Bai.tim/)  Takrn  — Omn.  Santa 
Anna  —  VicroHiA  Takrh  —  liJcoTT  BuriRORURi  Tatluh  —  Tim  Bat- 
TLR  or  Burma  V»ta. 

Gknrkai.  Tatix)u  now  eAtablished  hii  hoadqtmrtora  At  Mont«- 
ray.  HediiipRtelied  Geii.  Worth  with  twelve  hundred  nuui  and 
eight  pieces  of  artillery  against  Saltillo,  of  which  he  took  pot- 
session  without  the  slightest  opposition.  Hero  he  reinainul  until 
the  middle  of  January,  when  he  was  orderad  to  proceed  with 
the  regulars  and  volunteers  of  the  army  to  join  Oon.  S<;utt  at 
Vera  Cruz. 

13rif;.-0en.  Wool  was  sent  against  Parras  with  a  detaclimont 
of  twonty-four  hundred  men.  Meanwhile  a  revolution  at  the 
capital  of  Mexico  had  placed  Oen.  Santa  Anna  at  the  head  of 
Mexican  affairs.  He  did  not  accept  the  Presidential  chair,  hut 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  army,  and  commenced  extrav- 
agant preparations  for  raising  and  equipping  a  force  sufHciont 
to  arrest  the  progress  of  Gen.  Taylor.  The  United  States 
government  was  alarmed  at  the  appearance  of  his  movements, 
and  orderad  Taylor  to  terminate  the  armistice  which  had  been 
granted.  Receiving  this  information,  he  marched  a  force  to 
Victoria,  and  entered  that  place  without  opposition.  At  this 
time  Maj.-Gen.  Scott  had  been  appointed  to  supercede  Taylor 
in  the  command  of  the  army  in  Mexico,  and  finding  his  force 
insufficient  to  attack  Vera  Oruz,  the  first  object  of  his  cam- 
paign, he  made  a  heavy  draft  on  Taylor's  army.  In  obedience 
to  this  demand  nearly  all  the  regular  troops,  comprising  the 
divisions  of  Gens.  Worth  and  Patterson,  the  brigades  of 
Quintam  and  Twiggs,  and  all  the  other  corps  that  could  be 
drawn  from  the  Rio  Grande,  started  out  for  Vera  Oruz.  Five 
hundred  regulars  and  four  thousand  newly  arrived  volunteers 

(466) 


OR,  Till   nORDRR   WARA  OF  TWO  CRNTITRrail. 


467 


ATum-TiiK  Bat. 


uartori  nt  Monte- 
liundrod  um\  and 
Inch  he  took  \)0*- 
Uoremain«l"»til 
[  to  proceed  with 
join  Qon.  Scott  at 

with  a  detachment 
,  revolution  at  the 
na  at  the  head  of 
kidential  chair,  l)ut 
ommenced  extrav- 
f  a  force  autHcient 
'lie  United  States 
jf  iiis  movementa, 
Ice  which  had  been 
larched  a  force  to 
►OBition.     At  this 
supercede  Taylor 
J  finding  his  force 
lobject  of  his  cam- 
my.    In  obedience 
ps,  comprising  the 
,   the  brigades  of 
>rp8  that  could  be 
VeraOruz.    Five 
arrived  volunteerB 


wore  all  that  romaliiod  with  (^on.  Taylor.     A»  »oon  aa  the  troopt 
d<<pArto<i  to  join  Scott,  Taylor  rotirtxl  to  Monterey,  whore  ho 
remained  until  informed  that  ilicn.  Santa  Anna  was  approach' 
Ing.     He  then  tot  out  for  Agua  Nueva,  which  ii  alMmt  twenty 
mild  louth  of  Saltillo.     At  thia  point  ho  remained  until  the 
twunty-flmt  of  February,  when,  being  informed  that  the  Mexi- 
can! were  approaching  in  great  force,  he  retired  to  *'  the  defile 
called  Ango.4tura,  which  fni«a  the  hacienda  of  Huona  Viata." 
In   this  itrong  poHition  ho  }K)stcd  hii  little  army  of  five 
thousand,  and  awaited  the  approach  of  twenty  thousand  Mex- 
icans.     On  the  twenty-second  of  February  the  Mexican  army 
blackened  the  distant  hills,  and  Taylor's  men  beheld  their 
approach.     *'  It  was  a  glorious  spectacle,"  says  an  able  writer, 
"and  even  those  who  had  never  faced  an  enemy  felt  their 
bosoms  bounding  with  courage  and  onthusiaHm  as  the  glitter- 
ing masses  of  Santa  Anna's  cavalry  poured  down   into   the 
plains  below.     All  fear  was  flung  to  the  winds;  silently  and 
stornly  that  little  band  gathered  around  its  leader  and  awaited 
the  fearful  shock." 

The  American  army  was  drawn  up  nearly  at  right  angles  to 
the  road,  its  chief  force  being  on  the  east  side.  This  force  con- 
stituted the  loft  wing,  and  faced  the  south;  a  battery  of  light 
artillery  occupied  the  road,  and  the  right  wing  rested  on  the 
hill  west  of  it.  On  the  twenty-first  a  flag  approached  Gen. 
Taylor's  headquarters,  and  the  latter  was  treated  with  the 
following  communication,  from  Qen.  Santa  Anna: 

"  You  are  surrounded  by  twenty  thousand  men,  and  cannot, 
in  any  human  probability,  avoid  sufiering  a  rout  and  being  cut 
to  pieces  with  your  troops;  but  as  you  deserve  consideration 
and  particular  esteem,  I  wish  to  save  you  from  a  catastrophe, 
and  for  that  purpose  give  you  this  notice  in  order  that  yon 
may  surrender  at  discretion,  under  the  assurance  that  you  will 
be  treated  with  the  consideration  belonging  to  the  Mexican 
character;  to  which  end  you  will  be  granted  an  hour's  time  to 
make  up  your  mind,  to  commence  from  the  moment  when  my 
of  truce  arrives  in  your  camp." 
Oen.  Taylor  refused  to  surrender,  and  the  celebrated  battle 


V. 


468 


CONQUKSY  OF  MEXICO: 


of  Buena  Vista  followed,  the  general's  own  account  of  which 
is  as  follows: 

"  The  information  which  reached  me  of  the  advance  and 
concentration  of  a  heavy  Mexican  force  in  my  front,  had 
assumed  such  a  probable  form  as  to  induce  a  special  examina- 
tion far  beyond  the  reach  cf  our  pickets,  to  ascertain  its 
correctness.  A  small  party  of  Texan  spies,  under  Maj.  Mc- 
Culloch,  dispatched  to  the  hacienda  of  Encarnacion,  thirty  miles 
from  this,  on  the  route  to  San  Luis  Potosi,  had  reported  a  cav- 
alry force  of  unknown  strength  at  that  place.  On  the  twentieth 
of  February  a  strong  reconnoissance  under  Lieut.-Col.  May  was 
dispatched  to  the  hacienda  of  Heclionda,  while  Maj.  McCul- 
lough  made  another  examination  of  Encarnacion.  The  result 
of  these  expeditions  lei't  no  doubt  that  the  enemy  was  in  large 
force  at  Encarnacion,  under  the  orders  of  Gen.  Santa  Anna, 
and  that  he  meditated  a  forward  movement  and  attack  upon 
our  position. 

"  As  the  camp  at  Agna  Nueva  could  be  turned  on  either 
flank,  and  as  the  enemy's  force  was  greatly  superior  to  our  own, 
particularly  in  the  arm  of  cavalry,  I  determined,  after  much 
consideration,  to  *&ke  up  a  position  about  eleven  miles  in  rear, 
and  there  await  the  attack.  The  army  broke  up  its  camp  and 
marched  at  noon  on  the  twenty-iirst,  encamping  at  the  new 
position  a  little  in  front  of  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista.  With 
a  small  force  I  proceeded  to  Saltillo  to  make  some  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  defense  of  the  town,  leaving  Brig.  Gen. 
Wool  in  the  immediate  command  of  the  troops. 

"  Before  those  arrangements  were  completed,  on  the  morning 
of  the  twenty-second,  I  was  advised  that  the  enemy  was  in 
sight,  advancing.  Upon  reaching  the  ground  it' was  found 
that  his  cavalry  advance  was  in  our  front,  having  marched 
from  Encarnacion,  as  we  have  since  learned,  at  eleven  o'clock 
on  the  day  previous,  and  driving  in  a  mounted  force  left  at 
Agua  Nueva  to  cover  the  removal  of  public  stores.  Our  troops 
were  in  position,  occupying  a  line  of  remarkable  strength. 
The  road  at  this  point  becomes  a  narrow  defile,  the  valley  on 
its  right  being  rendered  quite  impracticable  for  artillery  by  a 
system  of  deep  and  impassible  gullies,  while  on  the  left  a  sue- 


OR,   THK    ItORDRR    WARS  OF   TWO   0KNTURIK8. 


409 


5ount  or  which 


cession  of  rugged  ridges  and  precipitous  ravines  extend  far 
back  toward  the  mountain  which  bounds  the  valley.  The 
features  of  the  ground  were  such  as  nearly  to  paralyze  tlie 
artillery  and  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  while  his  infantry  could  not 
derive  all  the  advantages  of  its  numerical  superiority.  In  this 
position  we  prepared  to  receive  him.  Oapt.  Washington's  bat 
tery  (Fourth  artillery)  was  posted  to  command  the  road,  while 
tlie  First  and  Second  Illinois  regiments,  under  Cols.  Hardin  and 
Bissell,  each  eight  companies  (to  the  latter  of  which  was 
attached  Capt.  Conner's  company  of  Texas  volunteers),  and 
the  Second  Kentucky,  under  Col.  McKee,  occupied  the  crests 
of  the  ridges  on  the  left  and  in  the  rear.  The  Arkansas  and 
Kentucky  regiments  of  cavalry,  commanded  by  Cols.  Yell  and 
H.  Marshall,  occupied  the  extreme  left  near  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  while  the  Indiana  brigade,  under  Brig.-Gen.  Lane, 
(composed  of  the  Second  and  Third  regiments,  under  Cols. 
Bowles  and  Lane),  the  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Col.  Davis, 
the  squadrons  of  the  First  and  Second  dragoons,  under  Capt. 
Steen,  and  I ^eut.-Col.  May,  and  the  light  batteries  of  Captains 
Sherman  »nd  Bragg,  Third  artillery,  were  held  in  reserve. 

"  At  eleven  o'clock  I  received  from  Gen.  Santa  Anna  a  sum- 
mons to  surrender  at  discretion,  which,  with  a  copy  of  my 
reply,  I  have  already  transmitted.  The  enemy  still  forbore  his 
attack,  evidently  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  his  rear  columns, 
which  could  be  distinctly  seen  by  our  look-outs  as  they 
approached  the  field.  A  demonstration  made  on  his  left 
caused  me  to  detach  the  second  Kentucky  regiment  and  a  sec- 
tion of  artillery  to  our  right,  in  which  position  they  bivouacked 
for  the  night.  In  the  meantime,  the  Mexican  light  troops  had 
engaged  ours  on  the  extreme  left  (composed  of  parts  of  the 
Kentucky  and  Arkansas  cavalry  dismounted,  and  a  rifle  battal- 
ion from  the  Indiana  brigade,  under  Major  Gorman,  the  whole 
commanded  by  Col.  Marshall,)  and  kept  up  a  sharp  fire,  climb- 
ing the  mountain  side,  and  apparently  endeavoring  to  gain  our 
flank.  Three  pieces  of  Capt.  Washington's  battery  had  been 
detached  to  the  left,  and  were  supported  by  the  second  Indiana 
regiment.  An  occasional  shell  was  thrown  by  the  enemy  into 
tins  part  of  our  line,  but  without  eflfect.    The  skirmishing  of 


I''' 


I    I 

i 


470 


00NQDE8T  OF   MKXICO: 


the  light  troops  was  kept  np  with  trifling  Iobs  on  our  part  until 
dark,  when  I  became  convinced  that  no  serious  attack  would 
be  made  before  the  morning,  and  returned,  with  the  Missis- 
sippi regiment  and  squadron  of  second  dragoons,  to  Saltiilo. 
The  troops  bivouacked  without  fires,  and  laid  upon  their  arms. 
A  body  of  cavalry,  some  fifteen  hundred  strong,  had  been  vis- 
ible all  day  in  rear  of  the  town,  having  entered  the  valley 
through  a  narrow  pass  east  of  the  city.  This  cavalry,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Minon,  had  evidently  been  thrown  in  our  rear 
to  break  up  and  harass  our  retreat,  and  perhaps  make  some 
attempt  against  the  town  if  practicable.  The  city  was  occupied 
by  four  excellent  companies  of  Illinois  volunteers,  under  Major 
Warren  of  the  first  regiment.  A  field  work,  which  commanded 
most  of  the  approaches,  was  garrisoned  by  Capt.  Webster's 
company,  first  artillery,  and  armed  with  <;wo  24-pound  howit- 
zers, while  the  train  and  headquarter  camp  was  guarded  by  two 
companies  of  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Capt.  Eogers,  and  a 
field  piece  commanded  by  Capt.  Shover,  third  artillery.  Hav- 
ing made  these  dispositions  for  the  protection  of  the  rear,  I 
proceeded  on  tl\e  morning  of  the  twenty-third  to  Buena  Vista, 
ordering  forward  all  the  other  available  troops.  The  action 
had  commenced  before  my  arrival  on  the  field. 

"  During  the  evening  and  night  of  the  twenty-second  the 
enemy  had  thrown  a  body  of  light  troops  on  the  mountain  side, 
with  the  purpose  of  outflanking  our  left;  and  it  was  here  that 
the  action  of  the  twenty-third  commenced  at  an  early  houn 
Our  riflemen,  under  Col.  Marshall,  who  had  been  re-enforced  by 
three  companies  under  Major  Trail,  second  Illinois  volunteers^ 
maintained  their  ground  handsomely  against  a  greatly  supe- 
rior force,  holding  themselves  under  cover,  and  using  their 
weapons  with  deadly  eflfect.  About  eight  o'clock  a  strong 
demonstration  was  made  against  the  center  of  our  position,  a 
heavy  column  moving  along  the  road.  This  force  was  soon 
dispersed  by  a  few  rapid  and  well-directed  shots  from  Capt. 
Washington's  battery.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy  was  con- 
centrating a  large  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry  under  cover  of 
the  ridges,  with  the  obvious  intention  of  forcing  our  left, 
which  was  posted  on  an  extensive  plateau.    The  second  Indi- 


OR,  THE   BORDKR  WARfl  OF  TWO   OENTURIKB. 


*71 


[1  our  part  until 
B  attack  would 
th  tl.e  Missis- 
ons,  to  Saltillo. 
pon  their  arms. 
^,  had  been  vis- 
ered  the  valley 
[8  cavalry,  com- 
rown  in  our  rear 
laps  make  some 
ity  was  occupied 
ers,  under  Major 
hich  commanded 
Capt.  Webeter'a 
24-pound  howit- 
,8  guarded  by  two 
pt.  Rogers,  and  a 
I  artillery.    Hav- 
|on  of  the  rear,  I 
to  Buena  Vista, 
)op8.    The  action 


wenty-second  the 
le  mountain  side, 
1  it  was  here  that 
at  an  early  hour, 
sen  re-enforced  by 
inois  volunteers, 
a  greatly  supe- 
and  using  their 
o'clock  a  strong 
of  our  position,  a 
.8  force  was  soon 
shots  from  Capt. 
)  enemy  was  con- 
iry  under  cover  of 
forcing  our  left, 
The  second  Indi- 


ana and  second  Illinois  regiments  formed  this  part  of  our  line, 
the  former  covering  three  pieces  of  light  artil.ery,  unaer  the 
orders  of  Oapt.  O'Brien — Brig.-Gen.  Lane  being  in  the  imme- 
diate command.     In  order  to  bring  his  men  v/ithin  effective 
range.  Gen.  Lane  ordered  the  artillery  and  second  Indiana 
regiment  forward.      The  artillery  advanced  within  musket 
range  of  a  heavy  body  of  Mexican  infantry,  and  was  served 
against  it  with  great  effect,  but  without  being  able  to  check  its 
advance.    The  infantry  ordered  to  its  support  had  fallen  back 
in  disorder,  being  exposed,  as  well  as  the  battery,  not  only  to 
a  severe  fire  of  small  arms  from  the  front,  but  also  to  a  mur- 
derous cross-fire  of  grape  and  canister  from  a  Mexican  battery 
on  the  left.    Capt.  O'Brien  found  it  impossible  to  retain  his 
position  without  support,  but  was  only  able  to  withdraw  two 
of  his  pieces,  all  the  horses  and  cannoneers  of  the  third  piece 
being  killed  or  disabled.    The  second  Indiana  regiment,  wliich 
had  fallen  back  as  stated,  could  not  be  rallied,  and  took  no 
farther  part  in  the  action,  except  a  handful  of  men,  who,  under 
its  gallant  colonel,  Bowles,  joined  the  Mississippi  regiment, 
and  did  good  service,  and  those  fugitives  who,  at  a  later  period 
in  the  day,  assisted  in  defending  the  train  and  depdt  at  Buena 
Vista.     This  portion  of  our  line  having  given  way,  and  the 
enemy  appearing  in  overwhelming  force  against  our  left  fiank, 
the  light  troops  which  had  rendered  such  good  service  on  the 
mountain  were  compelled  to  withdraw,  which  they  did,  for  the 
most  part,  in  good  order.    Many,  however,  were  not  rallied 
nntil  they  reached  the  depdt  at  Buena  Vista,  to  the  defense  of 
which  they  afterward  contributed. 

"  Col.  Bissell's  regiment  (second  Illinois,)  which  had  been 
joined  by  a  section  of  Capt.  Sherman's  battery,  had  become 
completely  outflanked,  and  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  being 
entirely  unsupported.  The  enemy  was  now  pouring  masses  of 
infantry  and  cavalry  along  the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our 
left,  and  was  gaining  our  rear  in  great  force.  At  this  moment 
I  arrived  upon  the  field.  The  Mississippi  regiment  had  been 
directed  to  the  left  before  reaching  the  position,  and  immedi- 
ately came  into  action  against  the  Mexican  infantry  which  had 
turned  our  flank.    The  second  Kentucky  regiment  and  a  sec- 


172 


OOMQUEBT   or  MEXICO: 


tion   of  artillery  under  Capt.   Bragg,   had  previously  been 
ordered  from  the  right  to  ro-enforce  our  left,  and  arrived  at  a 
most  opportune  moment.    That  regiment,  and  a  portion  of  the 
first  Illinois,  under  Col.  Hardin,  gallantly  drove  the  enemy, 
and  recovered  a  portion  of  the  ground  we  had  lost.    The  bat- 
teries of  Gapts.  Sherman  and  Bragg  were  in  a  position  on  the 
plateau,  and  did  much  execution,  not  only  in  front,  but  partic- 
ularly upon  the  masses  which  had  gained  our  rear.     Discover- 
ing that  the  enemy  was  heavily  pressing  upon  the  Mississippi 
regiment,  the  third  Indiana  regiment,  under  Col.  Lane,  waa 
dispatched  to  strengthen  that  part  of  our  lino,  which  formed  a 
crotchet  perpendicular  to  the  first  line  of  battle.    At  the  same 
time  Lieut.  Kilburn,  with  a  piece  of  Capt.  Bragg's  battery, 
was  directed  to  support  the  infantry  there  engaged.     Tlie 
action  was  for  a  long  time  warmly  sustained  at  that  point — 
the  enemy  making  several  efforts  both  with  infantry  and  cav- 
alry against  our  line,  and  being  always  repulsed  with  heavy 
loss.     I  had  placed  all  the  regular  cavalry  and  Capt.  Pike's 
squadron  of  Arkansas  horse  under  the  orders  of  Brevet  Lieut.- 
Col.  May,  with  directions  to  hold  in  check  the  enemy's  column, 
still  advancing  to  the  rear  along  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
which  was  done  in  conjunction  with  the  Kentucky  and  Arkan- 
sas cavalry  under  Cols.  Marshall  and  Yell. 

"  In  the  meantime  our  left,  which  was  still  strongly  threat- 
ened by  a  superior  force,  was  farther  strengthened  by  the 
detachment  of  Capt.  Bragg's  and  a  portion  of  Capt.  Sherman's 
batteries  to  that  quarter.  The  concentration  of  artillery  fire 
upon  the  masses  of  the  enemy  along  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
and  the  determined  resistance  offered  by  the  two  regiments 
opposed  to  them,  had  created  confusion  in  their  ranks,  and 
some  of  the  corps  attempted  to  effect  a  retreat  upon  the  main 
line  of  battle.  The  squadron  of  the  first  dragoons,  under 
Lieut.  Rucker,  was  now  ordered  up  the  deep  ravine  which  these 
retreating  corps  were  endeavoring  to  cross,  in  order  to  charge 
and  disperse  them.  The  squadron  proceeded  to  the  point 
indicated,  but  could  not  accomplish  the  object,  being  exposed 
to  a  heavy  fire  from  a  battery  established  to  cover  the  retreat 
of  those  corps.    While  the  squadron  was  detached  on  this 


OB,   TUE   BORDER   WARS  OF  TVfO  GENTURIEB. 


478 


)reviou8ly  been 
nd  arrived  at  a 
a  portion  of  the 
ove  the  enemy, 

lost.    The  bat- 

poaition  on  tlie 

;ront,  but  partic- 

rear.     Discover- 

1  the  Mississippi 

Col.  Lane,  was 
,  which  formed  a 
le.  At  the  same 
Bragg's  battery, 

engaged.     The 

at  that  point— 
infantry  and  cav- 
ulsed  with  heavy 
ind  Capt.  Pike's 
of  Brevet  Lieut.- 

enemy's  colunni, 
)f  the  mountain, 
ueky  and  Arkan- 

strongly  threat- 
igthened  by  the 
t  Capt.  Sherman's 
n  of  artillery  lire 
of  the  mountain, 
le  two  regiments 
their  ranks,  and 
at  upon  the  main 

dragoons,  under 
•avine  which  tliese 
n  order  to  charge 
led  to  the  point 
set,  being  exposed 

cover  the  retreat 
detached  on  this 


service,  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was  observed  to  concentrate 
on  our  extreme  left,  apparently  with  a  view  of  making  a 
descent  upon  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  where  our  train 
and  baggage  were  deposited.  Lieut.-Col.  May  was  ordered  to 
the  support  of  that  point,  with  two  pieces  of  Capt.  Sherman's 
battery  under  Lieut.  Beynolds.  In  the  meantime,  the  scat- 
tered forces  near  the  hacienda,  composed  in  part  of  Majors 
Trail  and  Gorman's  commands,  had  been  to  some  extent  organ- 
ized under  the  advice  of  Major  Monroe,  chief  of  artillery,  with 
the  assistance  of  Major  Morrison,  volunteer  staff,  and  were 
posted  to  defend  the  position.  Before  our  cavalry  had  reached 
the  hacienda,  that  of  the  enemy  had  made  its  attack;  having 
been  handsomely  met  by  the  Kentucky  and  Arkansas  cavalry 
under  Cols.  Marshall  and  Yell.  The  Mexican  column  imme- 
diately divided,  one  portion  sweeping  by  the  dep6t,  where  it 
received  a  destructive  iire  from  the  force  which  had  collected 
there,  and  then  gaining  the  mountain  opposite,  under  a  fire 
from  Lieut.  Reynolds'  section,  the  remaining  portion  regaining 
the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our  left.  In  the  charge  at  Buena 
Vista,  Col.  Yell  fell  gallantly  at  the  head  of  his  regiment;  we 
also  lost  adjutant  Vaughan,  of  the  Kentucky  cavalry — a  young 
officer  of  much  promise.  Lieut.-Col.  May,  who  had  been 
rejoined  by  the  squadron  of  the  first  dragoons  and  by  portions 
of  the  Arkansas  and  Indiana  troops,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Eoane 
and  Major  Gorman,  now  approached  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
holding  in  check  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  upon  whose 
masses,  crowded  in  the  narrow  gorges  and  ravines,  our  artil- 
lery was  doing  fearful  execution. 

"The  position  of  that  portion  of  the  Mexican  army  which 
had  gained  our  rear  was  now  very  critical,  and  it  seemed 
doubtful  whether  it  could  regain  the  main  body.  At  this 
moment  I  received  from  Gen.  Santa  Anna  a  message  by  a  staff 
officer,  desiring  to  know  what  I  wanted?  I  immediately  des- 
patched Brig.- Gen.  Wool  to  the  Mexican  general-in-chief,  and 
sent  orders  to  cease  firing.  Upon  reaching  the  Mexican  lines 
Gen.  Wool  could  not  cause  the  enemy  to  cease  their  fire,  and 
accordingly  returned  without  having  an  interview.  The 
extreme  right  of  the  enemy  continued  its  retreat  along  the 


j 


474 


ooivQuser  or  mexioo: 


base  of  the  mountain,  and  finally,  in  spite  of  all  our  efibrts^ 
effected  a  junction  with  the  remainder  of  the  army. 

"  During  the  day,  the  cavalry  of  Gen.  Minon  had  ascended 
the  elevated  plain  above  Saltillo,  and  occupied  the  road  from 
the  city  to  the  field  of  battle,  where  they  intercepted  several 
of  our  men.  Approaching  the  town,  they  were  fired  upon  by 
Gapt.  Webster  from  the  redoubt  occupied  by  his  company, 
and  then  moved  off  towards  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley,  and 
obliquely  towards  Buena  Vista.  At  this  time,  Gapt.  Sbover 
moved  rapidly  forward  with  his  piece,  supported  by  a  miscel- 
laneous command  of  mounted  volunteers,  and  fired  several 
shots  at  the  cavalry  with  great  effect.  They  were  driven  into 
the  ravines  which  lead  to  the  lower  valley,  closely  pursued  by 
Gapt.  Shover,  who  was  farther  supported  by  a  piece  of  Capt. 
Webster's  battery,  under  Lieut.  Donaldson,  which  had 
advanced  from  the  redoubt,  supported  by  Gapt.  Wheeler's 
company  of  Illinois  volunteers.  The  enemy  made  one  or  two 
efforts  to  charge  the  artillery,  but  was  finally  driven  back  in  a 
confused  mass,  and  did  not  again  appear  upon  the  plain. 

''  In  the  meantime,  the  firing  had  partially  ceased  upon  tlie 
principal  field.  The  enemy  seemed  to  confine  his  eflbrts  to 
the  protection  of  his  artillery,  and  I  had  left  the  plateau  for  a 
moment,  when  I  was  recalled  thither  by  a  very  heavy  musketry 
fire.  On  regaining  that  position,  I  discovered  that  our  infantry 
(Illinois  and  second  Kentucky)  had  engaged  a  greatly  superior 
force  of  the  enemy — evidently  his  reserve — and  that  they  had 
been  overwhelmed  by  numbers.  The  moment  was  most  criti- 
cal. Gapt.  O'Brien,  with  two  pieces,  had  sustained  this 
heavy  charge  to  the  last,  and  was  finally  obliged  to  leave  his 
guns  on  the  field — his  infantry  support  being  entirely  routed, 
Capt.  Bragg,  who  had  just  arrived  from  the  left,  was  ordered 
at  once  into  battery.  Without  any  infantry  to  support  him, 
and  at  the  imminent  risk  of  losing  his  guns,  this  ofiicer  came 
rapidly  into  action,  the  Mexican  line  being  but  a  few  yards 
from  the  muzzle  of  his  pieces.  The  first  discharge  of  canister 
caused  the  enemy  to  hesitate,  the  second  and  third  drove  him 
back  in  disorder,  and  saved  the  day.  The  second  Kentucky 
regiment,  which  had  advanced  beyond  supporting  distance  in 


OR,   T1IE   BORDBR  WARS  OF  TWO  CENTURIK8. 


475 


this  affair,  was  driven  back  and  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy's 
cavalry.  Taking  a  ravine  which  led  in  the  direction  of  Oapt. 
Washington's  battery,  their  pursuers  became  exposed  to  his 
fire,  which  soon  checked  and  drove  them  back  with  loss.  In 
the  meantime  the  rest  of  our  artillery  had  taken  position  on 
the  plateau,  covered  by  the  Mississippi  and  third  Indiana 
regiments,  the  former  of  which  had  reached  the  ground  in 
time  to  pour  a  fire  into  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  thus 
contribute  to  his  repulse.  In  this  last  conflict  we  had  the 
misfortune  to  sustain  a  very  heavy  loss.  Cul.  Hardin,  first 
Illinois,  and  Col.  McKee  and  Lieut.-Col.  Clay,  second  Ken- 
tucky regiment,  f(^ll  at  this  time  while  gallantly  leading  their 
commands. 

"  No  farther  attempt  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  force  our 
position,  and  the  approach  of  night  gave  an  opportunity  to 
pay  proper  attention  to  the  wounded,  and  also  to  refresh  the 
soldiers,  who  had  been  exhausted  by  incessant  watchfulness 
and  combat.    Though  the  night  was  severely  cold,  the  troops 
were  compelled  for  the  most  to  bivouac  without  fires,  expect- 
ing that  morning  would  renew  the  conflict.    During  the  night 
the  wounded  were  removed  to  Saltillo,  and  every  prepartion 
made  to  receive  the  enemy,  should  he  again  attack  our  position. 
Seven  fresh  companies  were  drawn  from  the  town,  and  Brig.- 
Gen.  Marshall,  with  a  re-wiforcement  of  Kentucky  cavalry  and 
four  heavy  guns,  under  Capt.  Prentiss,  first  artillery,  was  near 
at  hand,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  abandoned 
his  position  during  the  night.    Our  scouts  soon  ascertained 
that  he  had  fallen  back  upon  Agua  Nueva.    The  great  dis- 
parity of  numbers,  and  the  exhaustion  of  our  troops,  rendered 
it  inexpedient  and  hazardous  to  attempt  pursuit.    A  staff 
officer  was  dispatched  to  Gen.  Santa  Anna  to  negotiate  an 
exchange  of  prisoners,  which  was  satisfactorily  completed  on 
the  following  day.    Our  own  dead  were  collected  and  buried, 
and  the  Mexican  wounded,  of  which  a  large  number  had  been 
left  upon  the  field,  were  removed  to  Saltillo,  and  rendered  as 
comfortable  as  circumstances  would  permit. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  twenty-sixth,  a  close  reconnoissanco 
was  made  of  the  enemy's  position,  which  was  found  to  be 


476 


ooNQUEffr  OF  Mexico: 


/ 


occupied  only  by  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  the  infantry  and 
artillery  having  retreated  in  the  direction  of  San  Luis  Putoni. 
On  t!  -)  twenty-seven th,  our  troops  resumed  their  former  cuiii]) 
at  Agua  Nuova,  the  enemy's  rear-guard  evacuating  the  place 
as  we  approached,  leaving  a  considerable  number  of  woundod. 
It  was  my  purpose  to  beat  up  his  quarters  at  Encarnacion 
early  the  next  morning,  but  upon  examination,  the  weak  con- 
dition of  the  cavalry  horses  rendered  it  unadvisablo  to  attempt 
so  long  a  march  without  water.  A  command  was  finally  des- 
patched to  Encarnacion,  on  the  first  of  March,  under  Col. 
Belknap.  Some  two  hundred  woundod,  and  about  sixty  Moxi- 
(»n  soldiers  were  found  there,  the  army  having  passed  on  in 
the  direction  of  Matehuala,  with  greatly  reduced  numbers,  and 
suffering  much  from  hunger.  The  dead  and  dying  were 
strewed  upon  the  road,  and  crowded  the  buildings  0.''  the 
hacienda. 

"  The  American  force  engaged  in  the  action  of  Buena  Vista 
is  shown,  by  the  accompanying  field  report,  to  have  been  three 
hundred  and  thirty-four  officers,  and  four  thousand  four 
hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  exclusive  of  the  small  command 
left  in  and  near  Saltillo.  Of  this  number,  two  squadrons  of 
cavalry  and  three  batteries  of  light  artillery,  making  not  more 
than  four  hundred  and  fifty-three  men,  composed  the  only 
force  of  regular  troops.  The  strength  of  the  Mexican  army  is 
stated  by  Gen.  Santa  Anna,  in  his  summons,  to  be  twenty 
thousand;  and  that  estimate  is  confirmed  by  all  the  informa- 
tion since  obtained.  Our  loss  is  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  killed,  four  hundred  and  fifty-six  wounded,  and  twenty- 
tliree  missing.  Of  the  numerous  wounded,  many  did  not  require 
removal  to  the  hospital,  and  it  is  hoped  that  a  comparatively 
small  number  will  be  permanently  disabled.  The  Mexican  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  may  be  fairly  estimated  at  one  thousand 
five  hundred,  and  will  probably  reach  two  thousand.  At  least 
five  hundred  of  their  killed  were  left  upon  the  field  of  battle. 
We  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  number  of  deserters 
and  dispersed  men  from  their  ranks,  but  it  is  known  to  be  very 
great." 


10  infantry  and 
an  Luis  Putoxi. 
eir  former  camp 
iuating  the  place 
bor  of  wounded. 
)  at  Encarnacion 
n,  the  weak  con- 
ieablo  to  attempt 
I  was  finally  des- 
arch,  under  Col. 
ibout  sixty  Mexi- 
nng  passed  on  in 
eed  numbers,  and 
and  dying  were 
buildings  of  the 

n  of  Bnena  Vista 
o  have  been  three 
r  thousand  four 
e  small  command 
wo  squadrons  of 
making  not  more 
tn  posed  the  only 
Mexican  army  is 
)nB,  to  be  twenty 
all  the  informa- 
red  and  seventy- 
ided,  and  twenty- 
my  did  not  require 
t  a  comparatively 
The  Mexican  loss 
d  at  one  thousand 
ousand.    At  least 
;he  field  of  battle. 
mber  of  deserters 
known  to  be  very 


CHAPTER    LX. 

Okw.  Scott'b  Campaign  — The  Sieob  of  Vbiia  C?ihjk  —  Victory  of 
Cerro  Gordo  — Capturk  op  Puebla  —  Advance  on  Mexico  — 
Battle  op  the  Contreras— The  Victory— Other  Battles- 
Battle  OP  CuuRUBCBCO— The  Armistice. 

Leavino  Gen.  Taylor  at  Montorey,  to  wliich  place  he  marched 
eoon  after  the  battle  of  Buena  Yista,  let  us  turn  our  attention 
to  the  campaign  of   Major-Gen.  Wiufield  Scott,  who  was 
advancing  into  Mexico  from  another  quarter.    After  muster- 
ing an  army  of  nearly  twelve  thousand  men,  part  of  them 
having  been  drawn  from  Gen.  Taylor's  force,  he  proceeded 
against  the  city  and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  first  object  of  the 
campaign.     On  the  fifth  of  March,  1847,  Gen.  Scott's  fleet 
arrived  in  the  port  of  Anton  Lizardo,  presenting  a  grand  scene. 
"The  whole  eastern  horizon,"  says  an  eye  witness,  " looked 
like  a  wall  of  canvass.    Tlie  usually  quiet  harbor  was  soon 
astir  with  the  fleet,  which  presented  a  perfect  wilderness  of 
spars  and  rigging.     For  five  days  the  excitement  raged;  drums 
were  beating,  bands  of  music  playing,"  and  everything  told  of 
an  approaching  conflict.    On  the  tenth,  the  ships  of  war  were 
got  under  way  for  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  army  was  transported 
from  the  transports  to  them  in  surf-boats.     The  ships  then 
set  sail  for  the  city,  and,  in  the  passage,  presented  a  beautiful 
sight.    "  The  tall  ships  of  war  sailing  leisurely  along  under 
their  topsails,  their  decks  thronged  in  every  part  with  dense 
masses  of  troops,  whose  bright  muskets  and  bayonets  were 
Hashing  in  the  sunbeams;  the  gingling  of  spurs  and  sabres; 
the  bands  of  music  playing;  the  hum  of  the  multitude  rising 
up  like  the  murmur  of  the  distant  ocean ;  the  small  steamers 
plying  about,  their  decks  crowded  with  anxious  spectators; 
the  long  lines  of  snrf-boats  towing  astern  of  the  ships,  ready 

(477) 


4-'    ' 


!    I 


4-' 


ft  ^i?,*  fa  'ml 


«r8 


ooNQUion'  or  mexioo: 


to  disembark  the  truops;  all  these  tended  to  render  tlie  icone 
one  of  the  deepeit  interest."  About  titreo  o*oluok  in  the  after 
noon,  the  army  beheld  in  the  distance,  the  time-worn  wiilU 
and  baUlements  of  Vera  Oniz,  and  the  stately  old  castle  of  San 
Juan  d'Ulloa,  with  their  ponderous  cannon,  tier  upon  tier, 
ilashinfif  in  the  yellow  rays  of  the  sun. 

The  scone  of  embarkation  and  the  siege,  is  thus  described  bj 
an  eye  witness,  whose  language  has  been  preserved  in  a  neat 
little  work,  entitled  "The  Mexican  War  and  its  Heroes:"  <«It 
WM  a  most  beautiful,  nay,  a  tublims  sight,  that  embarkation, 
I  still  retained  my  position  in  the  fore-top,  and  was  watching 
every  movement  with  the  most  anxious  interest;  for  it  was 
thought  by  many  that  the  enemy  would  oppose  the  landing  of 
our  troops.  About  four  o'clock,  the  huge  surf-boats,  each  capa- 
ble of  conveying  one  hundred  men,  were  hauled  to  the  gang- 
ways of  the  different  men-of-war,  and  quickly  laden  with  their 
*  warlike  fraughtage;'  formed  in  a  single  line,  nearly  a  mile  in 
length;  and  at  a  given  signal,  commenced  slowly  moving 
toward  the  Mexican  shore.  It  was  a  grand  spectacle!  On, on 
went  the  long  range  of  boats,  loaded  down  to  the  gunwales 
with  brave  men,  the  rays  of  the  slowly-departing  sun  resting 
upon  their  uniforms  and  bristling  bayonets,  and  wrapping  tlie 
far  inland  and  fantastic  mountains  of  Mexico  in  robes  of  gold. 
On  they  went;  the  measured  stroke  of  the  countless  oars  ming- 
ling with  the  hoarse,  dull  roar  of  the  trampling  surf  upon  the 
sandy  beach,  and  the  shriek  of  the  myriads  of  sea-birds  soar- 
ing high  in  air,  until  the  boats  struck  the  shore,  and  quick  as 
thought  our  army  began  to  land.  At  this  instant,  the  Amer- 
ican flag  was  planted,  and  unrolling  its  folds,  floated  proudly 
out  upon  the  evening  breeze;  tlie  crews  of  the  men-of-war 
made  the  welkin  ring  with  their  fierce  cheering;  and  a  dozen 
bands  of  music,  at  the  same  time,  and  as  if  actuated  by  one 
impulse,  struck  up 

'  'Tis  the  staMpangled  banner  I    0,  long  may  it  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  flree,  and  the  home  of  the  brave  I' 

"  Early  the  next  morning,  the  old  grim  castle  of  San  Juan 
d'Ulloa  commenced  trying  the  range  of  its  heavy  guns,  throw- 


I 


OR,  TIIR   BORDKK   WAM  OF  TWO  OKNTUNiKS. 


479 


ing  Paixhan  iholli  at  tho  army,  and  cuntinued  it  at  intervaU 
for  a  week;  but  with  the  exception  of  an  ooouional  ■kirraiih 
with  a  party  of  the  oiioiny's  lancori,  tlioy  had  all  the  Ain  to 
thomielvea.  In  the  moantiino  our  furoei  wont  qniotly  on  with 
their  preparations,  stationing  their  pickets,  planting  their 
heavy  mortars,  landing  their  horses,  provisions  and  munitions 
of  war,  constantly  annoyed  with  a  ceaseless  fire  from  the 
Mexican  batteries,  which  our  troops  were  as  yet  too  busy  to 
return. 

"  On  the  twenty-fourth,  Lieut.  Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  with  a 
zeal  worthy  of  his  illustrious  father,  <  the  hero  of  I^ke  Erie,' 
dismounted  one  of  the  waist  guns  of  the  '  Albany,'  a  sixty- 
oight  pounder,  procured  a  number  of  volunteers  who  would 
willingly  have  charged  up  to  the  muzzles  of  the  Mexican  can- 
non with  such  a  loader,  and  taking  forty  rounds  of  Paixhan 
ihells,  proceeded  on  shore,  where,  after  dragging  his  gun 
through  the  sand  for  three  miles,  he  arrived  at  a  small  fortifi- 
cation, which  the  engineers  had  constructed  of  sand-bags  for 
him,  and  there  planted  his  engine  of  destruction,  in  a  situation 
which  commanded  the  whole  city  of  Vera  Cruz.  Roused  by 
tnch  a  gallant  example,  guns  from  each  of  the  other  ships  of 
the  squadron  were  disembarked  and  conveyed  to  tho  breast- 
work, which  was  as  yet  concealed  from  the  eyes  of  the  Mexi- 
cans by  being  in  the  rear  of  an  almost  impervious  chaparral, 
and  in  a  short  time  a  most  formidable  fortress  was  completed, 
which  was  styled  the  Naval  Battery. 

"  At  this  period.  Gen.  Scott,  having  quietly  made  all  his 
arrangements,  while  a  constant  shower  of  shot  and  shell  were 
thrown  at  his  army  by  the  enemy,  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  with  a 
summons  for  the  immediate  surrender  of  the  city  of  Vera 
Cruz,  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  and  with  a  full 
understanding  that  unless  his  demand  was  immediately  com- 
plied with,  an  attack  would  follow.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the 
Mexicans,  expecting  an  assault,  for  which  they  were  well  pre- 
pared, and  not  a  bombardment,  returned  an  indignant  refusal, 
and  were  told  that  at  four  o'clock  p.  h.,  they  should  hear  farther 
from  us.  In  tho  meantime,  the  chaparral  had  been  cut  away, 
disclosing  tho  Naval  Battery  to  the  gaze  of  the  astonished 


480 


ooNQunrr  or  mrxu»: 


i  *. 


Moxicftn*,  And  th«  morUn  and  heavy  artillery,  which  had  txMtn 
planted  upon  the  hilU  overlo(>kin((  the  city,  and  were  ready  to 
vomit  forth  their  Area  of  death.  Every  poraon  wan  now  wait, 
ing  with  trembling  anxiety  the  commencement  of  the  fray. 

**  About  four  o'clock  p.  m.,  whilo  the  orewi  of  the  triuiidrDn 
were  all  at  tupfMr,  a  ludden  and  tremenduut  roar  of  artillery 
on  ihore  proclaimed  thiU  the  battle  had  begun.  The  tea- 
things  were  left  to  '  take  care  of  themtelvei,'  and  pell-mell 
tumbled  nick  and  well  up  the*  ladden  to  the  ipar-deck.  I  fol- 
lowed with  the  human  tide,  and  loon  found  myeelf  in  the 
fore-top  of  the  *  Albany,'  and  looking  around  mo  a  Bublime 
but  terrific  sight  my  elevated  perch  presented  to  the  view. 
Some  two  hundred  sail  of  vessels  were  lying  immediHtcly 
around  us,  tlieir  tops,  cross-trees,  yards,  shrouds — everything 
where  a  foothold  could  be  obtained — crowded  with  Human 
beings,  clustered  like  swarming  bees  in  mid-summer  on  the 
trees,  all  intently  watching  tlie  battle.  I  turned  my  eye*  on 
shore.  Jonathan  had  at  last  awakened  from  his  slumber,  and 
had  set  to  work  in  earnest.  Bombshells  were  fiying  like  hail- 
stones into  Vera  Cruz  from  every  quarter;  sulphurous  flashei, 
clouds  of  smoke  and  the  dull  boom  of  the  heavy  guns  arose 
from  the  walls  of  the  city  in  return,  while  ever  and  anon  a  red 
sheet  of  flame  would  leap  from  the  great  brass  mortars  on  the 
ramparts  of  the  grim  castle,  followed  by  a  report,  which  fairly 
made  the  earth  tremble.  The  large  ships  of  the  squadron 
could  not  approach  near  enough  to  the  shore  to  participate  in 
the  attack  upon  the  city,  without  exposing  them  to  the  fire  of 
the  castle;  but  all  the  gunboats,  small  steamers  and  everything 
that  oould  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  enemy,  were  sent  in 
and  commenced  blazing  away;  a  steady  stream  of  fire,  like  the 
red  glare  of  a  volcano!  This  state  of  things  continued  until 
sunset,  when  the  small  vessels  were  called  oflT;  but  the  mortars 
kept  throwing  shells  into  the  devoted  town  the  live-long  night. 
I  was  watching  them  until  after  midnight,  and  it  was  one  of 
the  most  striking  displays  that  I  ever  beheld. 

"  A  huge  black  cloud  of  smoke  hung  like  a  pall  over  the 
American  army,  completely  concealing  it  from  view;  the  Mex- 
icans bad  ceased  firing,  in  order  to  prevent  our  troops  from 


ON,  tllK   NiiKnKII   WAKN  <tr   TWO  r>K>nuRrY9k 


at 


which  hft()  tMwn 
id  were  waiiy  to 
I  WM  now  walt- 
t  of  the  frny. 
}f  the  ■quiidron 
roar  of  artillery 
ignn.     Tlie  tea- 
i,'  and  pell-mell 
|)ar-dcck.     I  fol- 
kd  myielf  in  the 
d  mo  a  Bublime 
ted  to  the  view, 
ing  immcdiRtcly 
)iui» — everything 
led  with   kumnn 
i-8ummer  on  the 
rned  my  eyes  on 
his  •lumber,  and 
B  Hying  like  hail- 
alphnrouB  tlashei, 
icavy  guns  arose 
er  and  anon  a  red 
IB  mortarB  on  the 
port,  which  fairly 
of   the  squadron 
to  participate  in 
lem  to  the  fire  of 
ira  and  everything 
emy,  were  Bent  in 
m  of  fire,  like  the 
^  continued  until 
but  the  mortars 
le  live-long  night, 
tnd  it  was  one  of 


a  pall  over  the 
,  view;  theMox- 
our  troops  from 


dirvtUing  their  gunn  by  tin*  t^vshcfl  from  t^^  wallfi:  but  tht 

t)«>irtl)Hniieni  hadobtniniMl  theoxucr  'M)k<>  l>e^t)r&  (Inrk.  and  kept 

thundering  away,  ev«>ry  nIiuII  falling  dir^-tly  into  the  dooFTK^d 

city.     Suddenly,  a  vivid,  lightning-like  fla«h  would  gleam  for 

an  inatant  u)M)n  the  black  )>all  of  tntoko  hanging  over  our  liriea, 

and  then  m  the  ntnr  of  the  great  mortar  oanio  Intrne  to  otir 

ear*,  the  ponderoun  mIioII  would  IwHuun  to  dart  upward  like  a 

meteor,  and  afler  duHuribing  a  Buini-uirule  in  the  air,  destwnd 

with  a  loud  unwh  u|K)n  the  houMo-topH,  or  into  the  resounding 

itrvota  of  the  fated  city.     Then,  after  a  brief  but  awful  ntonient 

of  iiuB|>onBe,  a  lurid  glart),  illuminating  for  an  inKtant  the  white 

(iuinuB  and  grim   fortrcMitoB  of  Vera  (Jruz,  falling  into  ruiuR 

with  the  Bhock,  and  the  echoing  crash  that  uame  borne  to  our 

earM,  told  that  the  Bhell  hud  expMod,  and  executed  its  terrible 

mission  t 

''Throughout  the  whole  night  thcHO  fearful  iniHHileH  were 
traveling  into  the  city  in  one  (Hintinued  Htrenm;  but  the  enemy 
did  not  return  tlie  tire.  At  daylight,  however,  the  MexieauB 
Afi^un  opened  their  i>attcrieH  upon  our  urmy,  with  the  most 
determined  bravery. 

"  Al>out  eight  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  gallant  Perry  and  his  brave 
as^ueiates,  having  finished  the  mounting  of  their  guns,  and 
completed  all  their  nrrangcmcittH,  oi)ei)ed  with  a  tremendous 
roar  the  Naval  Battery  u{)on  the  west  side  of  the  city,  and 
were  inmiediately  answered  from  four  distinct  batteries  of  the 
enemy.  The  firm  earth  trembled  beneath  the  discharge  of 
tliesu  {mnderous  guns,  and  the  shot  fiow  like  hail  into  the  town, 
and  were  returned  with  interest  by  the  Mexicans.  Their  heavy 
{i;un8  were  served  with  wonderful  precision;  and  almost  every 
Bhot  struck  the  little  fort,  burst  open  the  sand-bags  of  which  it 
was  constructed,  and  covered  our  brave  officers  and  men  with 
a  cloud  of  dust.  Many  shot  and  shell  were  thrown  directly 
tiirough  the  embrasures;  and  to  use  the  expressions  of  one  of 
our  old  tars  who  had  been  in  several  engagements,  '  the  red* 
slcins  handled  their  long  thirty-two's  as  if  they  had  been  rifles  I' 
Several  of  our  men  and  one  oflScer  had  fallen,  but  the  remain- 
der of  the  brave  fellows  kept  blazing  away;  while  the  forts  and 
ramparts  of  the  city  began  to  crumble  to  the  earth.  This 
81 


482 


OONQUKOT   OF   MKXKV): 


state  of  things  continued  until  the  twenty-seventh ;  the  anny 
throwing  a  constant  shower  of  bombs  into  the  city,  and  the 
Naval  Battery  (manned  (hiily  by  fresh  officers  and  men,)  heat- 
ing down  the  fortifications,  and  destroying  everything  within 
its  range,  when  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  out  with  an  offer, 
wliich  was  immediately  accepted,  of  an  unt  mditional  surren- 
der  of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  castle  of  San  Jiian 
d'Ulloa." 

The  American  army  under  Gen.  Scott  entered  Yera  Cruz  in 
triumph,  where  it  remained  about  two  weeks,  when  the  Gen- 
eral marched  his  army  for  the  Mexican  Capital.  On  the 
Beventeenth  of  April  he  arrived  at  the  pass  of  the  Sierra  Gorde, 
where  Gen.  Santa  Anna  was  posted  with  eleven  thousand  men. 
Scott  made  preparations  for  attacking  the  enemy  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  planning  an  attack  which  has  become  famous  for 
its  perfection  and  results.  In  his  report  of  the  engagement, 
Gen.  Scott  says:  "We  are  quite  embarrassed  with  the  results 
of  victory — prisoners  of  war,  heavy  ordnance,  field  batteries, 
small  arms,  and  accoutrements.  About  three  thousand  men 
laid  down  their  arms  with  the  usual  proportion  of  field  and 
company  officers,  besides  five  generals,  several  of  them  of  great 
distinction,  Pinson,  Jarerro,  La  Vega,  Noriega,  and  Obando. 
A  sixth  general,  Vasquez,  was  killed  in  defending  the  battery 
(tower)  in  the  rear  of  the  whole  Mexican  army,  the  captin-e  of 
which  gave  us  those  glorious  results."  The  loss  of  the  Amer- 
icans in  this  terrible  battle  was  light,  while  that  of  the  Mexi- 
cans was,  as  in  most  of  their  engagements  with  the  United 
States  troops,  veiy  heavy. 

A  detachment  under  Gen.  Worth  captured  Puebla  on  the 
fifteenth  of  May,  where  the  army  remained  until  the  seventh 
of  August,  when  the  whole  army  marched  for  the  city  of 
Mexico.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day's  march,  a  sudden 
turn  in  the  route  revealed  a  scene  that  was  well  calculated  to 
excite  the  weary  soldiers.  The  whole  vast  plain  of  Mexico 
was  before  them.  The  coldness  of  the  air,  which  was  most 
sensibly  felt  at  this  great  elevation,  their  fatigue  and  danger 
were  forgotten,  and  their  "eyes  were  the  only  sense  that 
thought  of  enjoyment."     Mexico  with  its  lofty  steeples  and 


OR,   THE   BORDKK    WARS   OF   TWO   OKNTUKII<X 


483 


venth;  the  army 
the  city,  and  the 
s  and  men,)  l)eiit- 
iverything  within 
•nt  with  an  offer, 
(nditional  surren- 
istle  of  San  Jnan 

Bred  Vera  Cruz  in 
ks,  when  the  Gen- 
Capital.      On  the 
f  the  Sierra  Gorde, 
ven  thousand  men. 
enemy  on  the  tbl- 
)ecome  famous  for 
f  the  engagement, 
ed  with  the  results 
nee,  field  batteries, 
ree  thousand  men 
>ortion  of  field  and 
•al  of  them  of  great 
,riega,  and  Obando. 
[fending  the  battery 
my,  the  capture  of 
|e  loss  of  the  Amer- 
.  that  of  the  Mexi- 
;8  with  the  United 

ired  Puebla  on  the 
Id  until  the  seventh 
lied  for  the  city  of 
ly's  march,  a  sudden 
Is  well  calculated  to 
Ist  plain  of  Mexico 
[ir,  which  was  most 
fatigue  and  danger 
ae  only  sense  that 
[s  lofty  steeples  and 


chequered  domes,  its  bright  reality,  and  its  former  fame,  itu 
modern  splendor  and  its  ancient  magnificence,  was  before  them, 
while  around  on  every  side  its  thousand  lakes  seemed  like 
silver  stars  on  a  velvet  mantle.  Scott's  army  encamped  that 
night  at  the  base  of  the  mountains  with  tlie  enemy's  scouts 
on  every  side.  On  the  following  day  the  army  halted  al 
Ayotta,  only  fifteen  miles  from  Mexico.  "We  were  separated," 
says  one  who  bore  the  fatigues  of  the  march,  "from  the  city 
hy  the  marshes  which  surround  Lake  Tezcuco,  and  by  the  lake 
itself."  The  road  from  thia  point  was  commanded  by  a  steep 
and  loftly  hill  called  El  Pinnal,  which  had  been  strongly  forti- 
fied by  Santa  Anna.  Batteries  mounting  over  fifty  guns  in 
all,  had  been  placed  on  its  sides,  and  a  deep  ditch,  twenty-four 
feet  wide,  and  ten  deep,  filled  with  water,  had  been  cut,  con- 
necting the  ports  already  surrounded  by  marshes.  On  this 
side  Santa  Anna  had  twenty-five  thousand  men  against  the 
American  force  of  a  little  over  nine  tliou^and. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  August,  the  Americans  made  a 
reconnoisance  of  the  work  which  was  pronounced  impractica- 
ble, as  the  lives  of  half  the  troops  vrould  be  sacrificed  before 
the  ditch  could  be  crossed.    After  a  long  search  another  road 
was  found,  which  led  around  on  the  left,  but  which  was  guarded 
with  five  strong  batteries  at  a  point  about  five  miles  from  the 
city.     All  approach  to  the  city  seemed  to  be  cut  ofi^,  but  at 
length,  by  means  of  his   scouts.   General  Worth,  who  was 
encamped  about  five  miles  distant  found  a  path  around  the 
left  of  Lake  Chalco,  which  led  to  the  western  gate  of  the  city, 
and  which  had  not  yet  been  fortified.     On  the  fourteenth  the 
army  commenced  its  inarch  by  this  route.     On  the  nineteenth  it 
arrived  at  San  Juan    Worth's  division  being  considerably  in 
advance.     When   the  Americans  arrived  at  this  place,  they 
received  orders  to  sling  their  blankets  across  their  shoulders, 
put  their  knapsacks  into  their  wagons,  and   to  put  two  day's 
bread  and  beef  in  their  haversacks.    When  this  order  came  the 
men  knew  that  the  work  was   at  hand.      The   enemy  was 
reported  to  be  in  position  as  follows:  Santa  Anna  with  twenty 
thousand  men  was  at  St.  Augustine;  Valencia  with  ten  thous- 
and was  at  an  elevation  called  Contreros  which  commanded 


li 


/ 


484 


OONQUK8T   OF   MEX1(>>: 


the  road  in  that  direction.  It  now  became  Scott's  object  to 
drive  Valencia  from  his  position,  and  thus  get  in  between 
Hanta  Anna  and  the  city.  With  a  view  to  effecting  this,  Gen. 
Wortli  was  directed  to  keep  Santa  Anna  in  check,  while  a 
portion  of  the  army  under  Gen.  Twiggs  was  to  rout  Valencia. 
The  progress  from  this  point  is  thus  described  by  one  who 
particij)ated  :* 

*"  We  left  San  Juan  about  one  o'clock,  not  particularly  desir- 
ing a  %ht  so  late  in  the  day,  but  still  not  shunning  it  in  case 
we  could  have  a  respectable  chance.  About  two  p.  m.,  as  we 
had  crawled  to  the  top  of  a  hill,  whither  we  had  been  ourselves 
pulling  Magruder's  battery  and  the  mountain  howitzers,  we 
suddenly  espied  Valencia  fortified  on  a  hill  about  two  hundred 
yards  off,  and  strongly  re-enforced  by  a  column  which  had  just 
come  out  of  the  city.  We  laid  down  close  to  avoid  di-awing 
their  fire,  while  the  battery  moved  past  at  a  full  gallop.  Just 
then.  Gen.  Smith's  manly  voice  rung  out,  ''Forward  the  nfle% 
— to  support  the  battery.^  On  they  went  until  we  got  about 
eight  hundred  yards  from  the  work,  when  the  enemy  opened 
upon  them  with  the  long  guns,  which  were  afterwards  found 
to  be  sixteen  and  eight-inch  howitzers.  The  ground  was  the 
worst  possible  for  artillery,  covered  with  rocks  large  and  small, 
prickly-pear  and  cactus,  intersected  by  ditches  filled  with  water 
and  lined  with  maguey-plant,  itself  imperviable  to  cavalry, 
and  with  patches  of  corn  which  concealed  the  enemy's  skir- 
mishers, while  it  impeded  our  own  passage.  The  artillery 
advanced  but  slowly  under  a  most  tremendous  fire,  which 
greatly  injured  it  before  it  could  be  got  in  range,  and  the 
thickness  of  the  undergrowth  caused  the  skirmishers  thrown 
forward  to  lose  their  relative  position,  as  well  as  the  column. 
About  four,  the  battery  got  in  position  under  a  most  murder- 
ous fire  of  grape,  canister,  and  round-shot.  Here  the  superi- 
ority of  the  enemy's  pieces  rendered  our  fire  nugatory.  We 
could  get  but  three  pieces  in  battery,  while  they  had  twenty- 
seven,  all  of  them  three  times  the  calibre  of  ours.  For  two  hours 
our  troops  stood  the  storm  of  iron  and  lead  they  hailed  upon 
them,  unmoved.     At  every  discharge  they  laid  flat  down  to 

*  The  Mexican  War  and  Its  Heroes. 


OK,    TIIK    HOKDEK    WAK8   OF  TWO    CKN'rUKII<:8. 


485 


Scott's  object  to 
get  in  between 

fecting  this,  Gen. 

n  check,  while  a 

to  rout  Valencia. 

ribed  by  one  who 

particularly  desir- 
mnning  it  in  ease 
t  two  p.  M.,  aft  we 
liad  been  ourselves 
;ain  howitzers,  we 
ibout  two  hundred 
mn  which  had  just 
e  to  avoid  drawing 
I  full  gallop.    Just 
Forward  the  rifies 
until  we  got  about 
the  enemy  opened 
e  afterwards  fonnd 
he  ground  was  the 
iks  large  and  small, 
les  filled  with  water 
rviable  to  cavalry, 
the  enemy's  skir- 
,ge.      The  artillery 
sndous  fire,  which 
in  range,  and  the 
ikirmishers  thrown 
Iwell  as  the  column. 
Ider  a  most  murder- 
Here  the  superi- 
ire  nugatory.    We 
they  had  twenty- 
lurs.   For  two  hours 
they  hailed  upon 
laid  flat  down  to 


avoid  the  Btorni,  and  then  sprung  up  to  serve  tlie  guns.  At 
the  end  of  that  time,  two  of  the  guns  were  dismounted,  and 
we  badly  hurt:  thirteen  of  the  horses  were  killed  and  disabled, 
and  fifteen  of  the  cannoniers  killed  and  wounded.  The  regi- 
ment was  then  recalled.  Tlic  lancers  had  been  repelled  in 
three  successive  charges.  The  third  infantry  and  first  artillery 
had  also  engaged  and  successfully  repelled  the  enemy's  skir- 
mishers without  losing  either  officers  or  men.  The  greatest 
loss  had  been  at  the  batteries.  Officers  looked  gloomy  for  the 
first  day's  fight,  but  the  brigade  was  formeu,  and  Gen.  Smith 
in  person  took  command.  All  felt  revived,  and  followed  him 
with  a  yell,  as,  creeping  low  to  avoid  the  grape,  (which  was 
coining  very  fast,)  we  made  a  circuit  in  rear  of  the  batteries; 
and,  passing  off  to  the  right,  we  were  soon  lost  to  view  in  the 
chaparral  and  cactus. 

"  Passing  over  the  path  that  we  scrambled  through,  behold 
us  at  almost  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  tired,  hungry,  and  sor- 
rowful, emerging  from  the  chaparral  and  croosing  the  road 
between  it  and  Valencia.     Here  we  found  Cadwalader  and  his 
brigade  already  formed,  and  discovered  Riley's  brigade  skir- 
mishing in  rear  of  the  enemy's  works.    Valencia  was  ignorant 
of  our  approach,  and  we  were  as  yet  safe.     In  front  of  us  was 
Valencia,  strongly  entrenched  on  a  hill-side  and  surrounded 
by  a  regular  field-work,  concealed  from  us  by  an  orchard  in 
our  rear.     Mendoza,  with  a  column  of  six  tliousand,  was  in 
tiic  road,  but  thinking  us  to  be  friends.     On  our  right  was  a 
large  range  of  hills  whose  continued  crest  was  parallel  to  the 
road,  and  in  which  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  five  thousand 
of  the  best  Mexican  cavalry.     On  our  left  we  were  separated 
from  our  own  forces  by  an  almost  impassible  wilderness,  and 
it  was  now   twilight.     Even  Smith   looked  round  for  help. 
Suddenly  a  thousand  vwas  came  across  the  hill-side  like  the 
yells  of  prairie  wolves  in  the  dead  of  night,  and  the  squadrons 
on  our  right  formed  for  charging.     Smitli  is  himself  again! 
'Face  to  the  rear!'     'Wait  till  you  see  their  red  caps,  and 
then  give  it  to  them!"     P'uriously  they  came  on  a  few  yards, 
then  changed  their  minds,  and,  disgusted  at  our  cool  reception, 
retired  to  their  cxjuclies. 


486 


(K)NQlI|«r    OK   MKXHiO: 


"  On  the  edge  of  tho  road,  l)etween  us  and  Valencia,  a  Mexii-un 
hunilet  spread  out,  with  its  mud  huts,  hirgu  orciiards,  due})-(;iit 
roads,  and  a  strong  church;  and  througli  the  centre  of  this 
hamlet  ran  a  path  parallel  to  tlio  main  road,  but  concealtMJ 
from  it;  it  is  nearly  a  mile  long.  In  this  road  Smith's  and 
Kiley's  brigade  bivouacked.  Shields,  who  came  up  in  the 
night,  lay  in  the  orchard,  while  Oadwalader  was  nearest  the 
enemy's  works.  As  we  were  within  range  of  their  batteriert, 
which  could  enfilade  tlie  road  in  which  we  lay,  we  built  a  utoiie 
breastwork  at  either  end  to  conceal  ourselves  from  their  view 
and  grape.  There  we  were,  completely  surnjunded  by  the 
enemy,  cut  off  from  our  communications,  ignorant  of  the 
ground,  without  artillery,  weary,  dispirited,  and  dejected.  We 
were  a  disheartened  set.  Witli  Santa  Anna  and  Salas's  promise 
of  '  no  quarter,'  a  force  of  four  to  one  against  us,  and  one- 
half  defeated  already,  no  succour  from  Puebla,  and  no  news 
from  Gen.  Scott,  all  seemed  dark.  Suddenly  the  words  came 
whispered  along,  '  We  storm  at  midnight.^  Now  we  are  cur- 
Bel  ves  again!  But  what  a  horrible  night!  There  we  lay,  too 
tired  to  eat,  too  wet  to  sleep,  in  the  middle  of  that  muddy  road, 
officers  and  men  side  by  side,  with  a  heavy  rain  pouring  down 
upon  us,  the  officers  without  blankets  or  overcoats  (they  liad 
lost  them  in  coming  across),  and  the  men  worn  out  with  fatigue. 
About  midnight  the  rain  was  so  heavy  that  the  streams  in  the 
road  flooded  us,  and  there  we  stood  crowded  together,  drenched 
and  benumbed,  waiting  for  daylight. 

"  At  half-past  three  the  welcome  word  ^fall  in '  was  passed 
down,  and  we  commenced  our  march.  The  enemy's  works  were 
on  a  hill-side,  behind  which  rose  other  and  slightly  higher 
hills,  separated  by  deep  ravines  and  gullies,  and  inter- 
sected by  streams.  The  whole  face  of  the  country  was  of  stiff 
clay,  which  rendered  it  almost  impossible  to  advance.  We 
formed  our  line  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  enemy's 
works,  Riley's  brigade  on  our  right.  At  about  four  we  started, 
winding  through  a  thick  orchard  which  effectually  concealed 
us,  even  had  it  not  been  dark,  debouching  into  a  deep  ravine 
which  ran  within  about  five  hundred  yards  of  the  work,  and 
which  carried  us  directly  in  rear  and  out  of  sight  of  their  bat- 


OK,    TIIK    ItOKDKK    WA«^  OF   TWO   (IKNTL'UIKX 


487 


teries.  At  duwn  of  day  we  reached  our  place,  after  incredible 
exertioiiB,  and  got  ready  for  our  charge.  The  men  threw  oiY 
their  wet  blankets  and  looked  to  their  pieces,  while  the  otticers 
got  ready  for  a  rush,  and  the  first  smile  that  lit  up  our  faces 
for  twelve  hours  boded  but  little  good  for  the  Mexicans.  On 
the  right,  and  opposite  the  right  of  their  work,  was  Riley's 
brigade  of  the  Second  and  First  infantry  and  Fourth  artillery, 
next  the  rifles,  then  the  First  artillery  and  Third  infantry.  In 
rear  of  our  left  was  Cadwalader's  brigade,  as  a  support,  with 
Shield's  brigade  in  the  rear  as  a  reserve — the  whole  division 
iiiider  command  of  Gen.  Smith,  in  the  absence  of  Gen.  Twiggs. 
They  had  a  smooth  place  to  rush  down  on  the  enemy's  work, 
with  the- brow  of  the  hill  to  keep  under  until  the  word  was 


given. 


'•At  last,  just  at  daylight,  Gen.  Smith,  slowly  walking  up, 
asked  if  all  was  ready.  A  look  answered  him.  '  Men,  for- 
ward/ '  And  we  did '  forward.'  Springing  up  at  once,  Riley's 
brigade  opened,  when  the  crack  of  a  hundred  rifles  startled  the 
Mexicans  from  their  astonishment,  and  they  opened  their  fire. 
Useless  fire!  for  we  were  so  close  that  they  overshot  us,  and 
before  they  could  turn  their  pieces  on  us  we  were  on  them. 
Then  such  cheers  arose  as  you  never  heard.  Tlie  men  rushed 
forward  like  demons,  yelling  and  firing  the  while.  The  carnage 
was  frightful,  and,  though  they  fired  sharply,  it  was  of  no  use. 
The  earthen  parapet  was  cleared  in  an  instant,  and  the  blows 
of  the  stocks  could  be  plainly  heard  mingled  with  the  yells  and 
groans  around.  Just  before  the  charge  was  made,  a  large  body 
of  lancers  came  winding  up  the  road,  looking  most  splendidly 
in  their  brilliant  uniforms.  They  never  got  to  the  work,  but 
turned  and  fled.  In  an  instant  all  was  one  mass  of  confusion, 
each  trying  to  be  foremost  in  the  flight.  The  road  was  literally 
blocked  up,  and,  while  many  perished  by  their  own  guns,  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  fire  on  the  mass  from  the  danger  of 
killing  our  own  men.  Some  fled  up  the  ravine  on  the  left,  or 
on  the  right,  and  many  of  these  were  slain  by  turning  their 
own  guns  on  them.  Towards  the  city  the  rifles  and  Second 
infantry  led  off  the  pursuit.  Seeing  that  a  large  crowd  of  the 
fugitives  were  jammed  up  in  a  pass  in  the  road,  some  of  our 


488 


CONQUE8T  OK   MKXICO: 


men  ran  through  the  cornfield,  and  by  tluis  heading  them  oif 
and  firing  down  upon  tlieni,  about  tliirty  men  toolc  over  five 
hundred  prisoners,  nearly  a  hundred  of  them  officers.  After 
disarming  the  prisoners,  as  the  pursuit  had  ceased,  we  went 
back  to  the  fort,  where  we  found  our  troops  in  full  possesKlon, 
the  rout  complete. 

"We  found  that  the  enemy's  position  was  much  stronger 
than  we  had  supposed,  and  their  artillery  much  larger  and 
more  abundant.  Our  own  loss  was  small,  which  may  be 
accounted  for  by  their  perfect  surprise  at  our  charge,  m  to 
them  we  appeared  as  if  rising  out  of  the  earth,  so  unpen- 
ceived  was  our  approach.  Our  loss  was  one  officer  killed,  Cnpt. 
Hanson,  of  the  Seventh  infantry,  and  Lieut.  Van  Buren,  of  the 
rifles,  shot  through  the  leg,  and  about  fifty  men  killed  and 
wounded.  Their  force  consisted  of  eight  thousand  men,  under 
Valencia,  with  a  reserve,  which  had  not  yet  arrived,  under 
Santa  Anna.  Their  loss,  as  since  ascertained,  was  as  follows: 
Killed,  and  buried  since  *,he  fight,  seven  hundred  and  fifty; 
wounded,  one  thousand;  and  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  exclu- 
sive of  officers,  including  four  generals — Salas,  Mendoza,  Garcia, 
and  Gaudalupe — in  addition  to  dozens  of  colonels,  majors, 
captains,  etc.  We  captured,  in  all,  on  the  hill  twenty-two  pieces 
of  cannon,  including  five  eight-inch  howitzers,  two  long  eight- 
eens,  three  long  sixteens,  and  several  of  twelve  and  eight  inches. 
In  addition  were  taken  immense  quantities  of  ammunition 
and  muskets;  in  fact,  the  way  was  strewd  with  muskets,  esco- 
pets,  lances,  and  flags  for  miles.  Large  quantities  of  horses 
and  mules  were  also  captured,  though  large  numbers  were 
killed. 

"  Thus  ended  the  glorious  battle  of  Contreros,  in  which  two 
thousand  men,  under  Gen.  P.  F.  Smith,  completely  routed  and 
destroyed  an  army  of  eight  thousand  men,  under  Gen.  Valenci.., 
with  Santa  Anna  and  a  force  of  twenty  thousand  m^n  .'tliin 
five  miles.  Their  army  was  so  completely  routed  tliat  not 
fifteen  hundred  men  rejoined  Santa  Anna  and  participated  in  the 
second  battle.  Most  people  would  have  thought  that  a  pretty 
good  day's  work.  Not  so.  We  had  only  ^aved  ourselves,  not 
conquered  Mexico,  and  men's  work  was  bifore  us  yet. 


OK,   TICK   BORDRK   WARS  OF  TWO   OBNTimilOi. 


481) 


leading  them  oif 
n  took  over  five 
I  officers.  After 
ceased,  we  went 
n  full  poasebKion, 

is  much  stronger 
nuch  larger  and 
,  which  may  be 
lur  charge,  as  to 
earth,   so   unper- 
fficer  killed,  Cnpt. 
Van  Burcm,  of  the 
1  men  killed  and 
usand  men,  under 
^et  arrived,  under 
d,  was  as  follows: 
undred  and  fifty; 
\  prisoners,  exclu- 
,  Mendoza,  Garcia, 
colonels,  majors, 
twenty -two  pieces 
rs,  two  long  elght- 
e  and  eight  inches. 
9  of  ammunition 
ith  muskets,  esco- 
antities  of  horses 
ge   numbers  were 

eros,  in  which  two 
pletely  routed  and 
ler  Gen.  Valenci.., 
usand  n)«^n  \;'t]iin 
routed  that  not 
participated  in  the 
ught  that  a  pretty 
,ved  ourselves,  not 
a-e  us  yet. 


''At  eight  A.  M.  wo  formed  again,  and  Gen.  Twiggs  having 
taken  command,  wo  started  on  the  rdad  to  Mexico.  We  had 
hardly  marched  a  mile  l)efore  we  were  sharply  tired  upon  from 
both  sides  of  the  road,  and  our  right  was  deployed  to  drive  the 
enemy  in.  We  soon  found  that  we  had  caught  up  with  tho 
retreating  party,  from  tho  very  brisk  tiring  in  front,  and  we 
drove  them  through  the  little  town  of  San  Angelo,  where  they 
had  been  halting  in  force.  About  half  a  mile  from  this  town 
we  entered  the  suburbs  of  another  called  San  Katherina,  when 
ft  large  party  in  the  church-yard  tired  on  the  head  of  the  col- 
umn, and  tho  balls  came  right  among  us.  Our  men  kept 
rushing  on  their  rear  and  cutting  them  down,  until  a  discharge 
of  grape-shot  from  a  large  piece  in  front  drove  them  back  to 
the  column.  In  this  short  space  of  time  tive  men  were  killed, 
ten  taken  prisoners,  and  a  small  color  captured,  which  was 
carried  the  rest  of  the  day. 

"  Meanwhile  Gen.  Worth  had  made  a  demonstration  on  San 
Antonio,  where  the  enemy  was  fortified  in  a  strong  hacienda; 
but  they  retired  on  his  approach  to  Churubusco,  where  the 
works  were  deemed  impregnable.  They  consisted  of  a  fortified 
hacienda,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  high  and  thick  wall  on 
all  sides.  Inside  the  wall  was  a  stone  building,  tho  roof  of 
which  was  flat,  and  higher  than  the  walls.  Above  all  this  was 
a  stone  church,  still  higher  than  the  rest,  and  having  a  large 
steeple.  The  wall  was  pierced  with  loop-holes,  and  so  arranged 
that  there  were  two  tiers  of  men  firing  at  the  same  time. 
They  thus  had  four  difterent  ranges  of  men  tiring  at  once,  and 
four  ranks  were  formed  on  each  range,  and  placed  at  such  a 
height  that  they  could  not  only  overlook  all  the  surrounding 
country,  but  at  the  same  time  they  had  a  plunging  fire  upon 
U8.  Outside  tho  hacienda,  and  completely  commanding  the 
avenues  of  approach,  was  a  field-work  extending  around  two 
sides  of  the  fort,  and  protected  by  a  deep,  wet  ditch,  and  armed 
with  seven  large  pieces.  This  hacienda  is  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  causeway  leading  to  the  western  gate  of  the  city, 
and  had  to  be  passed  before  getting  on  the  road.  About  three 
hundred  yards  in  rear  of  this  work  another  field-work  had  been 
built  where  a  cross-road  meets  tho  causeway,  at  a  point  where 


p 

I 

<%■ 


400 


CONQrKHT   OK    MKXICo: 


it  uroHHVH  n  rivt>r,  thus  forming  u  Wridgu  )iea«l,  or  t^ii)  de  pt)nt. 
Thin  wuH  nl8u  vci*)*  Htron^,  and  armed  with  throe  hirgu  piocett 
of  onniioii.  The  works  were  Burrounded  on  every  side  hy  lurj;»' 
corn-Holds,  which  were  filled  with  the  enemy's  skirmisherA,  ko 
that  it  was  diflicult  to  make  a  reconnoissance.  It  wati  therefore 
ilorided  to  make  the  attack  immediately,  as  they  were  full  uf 
men,  and  extended  for  nearly  a  mile  on  the  road  to  the  city, 
completely  covering  the  causoMiiy.  The  attack  commenced 
ahout  one  r.  m.  General  Twiggs'  division  attacked  on  the  side 
towards  which  they  approached  the  fort;  that  is,  op])08ite  the 
city.  Gen.  Worth's  attacked  the  bridge  head,  which  ho  took 
in  about  an  hour  and  a  half;  while  Gens.  Pillow  and  Qiiittnuii 
wore  on  the  extreme  left,  l)etweon  the  causeway  and  Twiggs' 
division.  The  rifles  were  on  the  left  and  in  roar  of  the  work, 
entrusted  by  Gen.  Scott  with  the  task  of  charging  it  in  uaa* 
Gen.  Pierce  gave  way.  The  firing  was  most  tremendous— in 
fact,  one  continued  roll  while  the  combat  lasted.  The  enemy, 
from  their  elevated  station,  could  rea<lily  see  our  men,  who  were 
unable  to  get  a  clear  view  from  their  position.  Three  of  the 
pieces  were  manned  by  '  the  deserters,'  a  body  of  about  one 
hundred,  who  had  deserted  from  the  ranks  of  our  army  during 
tlie  war.  They  were  enrolled  in  two  companies,  commiuuled 
by  a  deserter,  and  wore  bettor  uniformed  and  disciplined  than 
the  rest  of  the  army.  These  men  fought  most  desperately, 
and  are  said  not  only  to  liave  shot  down  several  of  our  officers 
whom  they  knew,  but  to  have  pulled  down  the  white  flag  of 
surrender  no  less  than  three  times. 

"  The  battle  raged  most  furiously  for  about  three  hours,  when, 
both  sides  having  lost  a  great  many,  the  enemy  began  to  give 
way.  As  soon  as  they  commenced  retreating,  Kearney's  8(iuad- 
ron  passed  through  the  t^te  de  pont,  and  charging  tlirough  the 
retreating  column,  pursued  them  to  the  very  gate  of  the  city. 
When  our  men  got  within  about  five  hundred  yards  of  tlie  gate 
they  were  opened  upon  with  grape  and  canister,  and  several 
oflftcers  wounded.  The  official  returns  give  our  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  at  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty,  besides 
officers.  The  Mexican  loss  ia  five  hundred  killed  in  the  second 
battle,  one  thousand  wounded,  and  eleven  hundred  prisoners. 


OB,  TIIK   mmDKK   WAIW  OF  TWO  CRNTITRIRH. 


491 


or  t(^tti  de  [Hint . 
iree  largo  piecPK 
ory  Bido  by  hup' 
H  Hkiriuishore,  m 

It  WRH  thej-etbre 
hoy  woro  full  of 
road  to  the  city, 
tnck  comineiKjed 
ockod  on  the  side 
C  Ih,  opposite  the 
tl,  which  he  took 
low  and  Qiiittnun 
,vay  and  Twiggs' 
rear  of  the  work, 
larging  it  in  ciwe 
t  tremendous— in 
;od.     The  enemy, 
ur  men,  wlio  were 
^n.    Three  of  the 
ody  of  about  one 
■  our  army  during 
mies,  comnuuuletl 

disciplined  than 
most  desperately, 
ral  of  our  officers 
the  white  flag  of 


exclusive  of  ottlcers.  Three  more  generals  were  taken,  among 
thuin  Gen.  Rincon,  and  Anaya,  the  Provisional  President;  also 
ten  ])iocc8  of  cannon,  and  an  immense  amount  of  ammuni- 
tion and  stores.  Santa  Anna,  in  his  report,  states  his  loss  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  at  twelve  thousand.  lie  has 
only  eighteen  thousand  lotl  out  of  thirty  thousand,  which  he 
gives  as  his  force  on  the  twentieth  in  both  actions. 

''Thus  ended  the  battle  of  (^hurubusco,  one  of  the  most 
furious  and  deadly,  for  its  lengtli,  of  any  of  the  war.  For  rea- 
sons which  ho  deemed  conclusive,  Gen.  Scott  did  not  enter 
the  city  that  night,  but  encamped  on  the  battle-fleld,  about 
four  miles  from  the  western  gate  of  the  city.  The  next  day 
a  flag  of  truce  came  out,  and  propositions  were  made  whicli 
resulted  in  an  armistice." 


three  hours,  when, 
my  began  to  give 

Kearney's  squad- 
rging  through  the 

gate  of  the  city. 

yards  of  tlie  gate 
lister,  and  several 
our  loss  in  killed 
and  fifty,  besides 

lied  in  the  second 
undred  prisoners, 


I 


CHAPTER    LXI. 


Tmbmikatiok  o»  this  Armibticr  — Tiir  Batti.b  or  Momnoi  dki,  Ret 
—  TiiR  SiKOK  or  TiiK  Caimtai.  — TiiK  City  or  Mkxico  Occi'imkd  — 
TiiK   Amkkican    Fi.ao    Floatino    riioM   tub   Mkxican  National 

Pa  LACK. 

An  AKMI8TICK  WHS  concluded  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  Au'^'ust 
between  Gen.  Scotland  President  Santa  Anna,  with  a  view  of 
terminating  the  war  and  effecting  a  treaty  of  peace.  Negotia- 
tions at  once  conunenced,  but  terminated  on  the  seventh  of 
September,  when  both  armies  assumed  hostile  attitudes.  On 
the  date  hist  mentioned,  a  hirge  body  of  Mexicans  was  diHcov- 
ered  hovering  about  Molinos  del  Key,  within  a  mile  of  the 
American  camp  and  Gen.  Scott's  lieadquartvus.  Gen.  Worth 
was  at  once  ordered  to  attack  the  enemy  at  this  point,  and  liia 
division  being  re-enforced,  he  moved  forward  to  battle.  Tlio 
position  of  the  Mexicans  was  well  taken.  Their  left  rested 
upon  and  occupied  a  group  of  strong  stone  buildings,  culled 
El  Molino  del  Key,  adjoining  the  grove  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
of  Clmpultepec,  and  directly  under  the  guns  of  the  castle  wliich 
crowned  its  ruinmit.  The  right  of  his  line  rested  upon 
another  stone  building,  called  Casa  Mata,  situated  at  the  foot 
of  the  ridge  that  slopes  gradually  from  the  heights  above  the 
village  of  Tacubaya  to  the  plaii.  below.  Midway  between  tiiese 
buildings  was  the  enemy's  field  battery,  and  his  inftiiitry 
forces  were  disposed  on  either  side  to  support  it.  "  The  early 
dawn,"  says  "Worth,  "was  the  moment  appointed  for  the 
attack,  which  was  announced  to  the  troops,  by  the  opening  of 
Huger's  guns  on  El  Molinos  del  Key,  upon  which  they  contin- 
ued to  play  actively  until  this  point  of  the  enemy's  line  became 
sensibly  shaken,  when  the  assaulting  party,  commanded  by 
Wright,  and  guided  by  that  accomplished  officer,  Capt.  Mason, 

(493) 


OR,  TIIR    BORDRR   WARM  OP  TWO   OKNTtrRIRA. 


498 


of  the  oii}i;itu*vri,  utsiitted  hy  Liuut.  Fo«tur,  (IuhIuhI  gulluiitly 
furwurd  to  tlio  HMitnult." 

*  UiiMhiikuii  hy   tin-  K'^lling  flro  of  inuHkntry  ami  cnniRtcr 
that  wa»  Hhowerud  upon  tluMii,  on  t\wy  ruHliud,  driving  tliu 
iiit'untry  un<l  urtilloryuiun  ut  tlut  point  of  tliu  bHyonvt.     Tliu 
cnoiny'H  Held  bnttery  watt  tnkun,  and  \i\»  own  guns  wuru  trailed 
upon  his  rutroating  niaMHes;  butbro,  howuvur,  thoy  could   bo 
dioi'bargod,  purcuiving  that  hu  had  bcun  diHpoHHUHHod  of  this 
Btroiig  potiition  by  coinparativuly  a  handful  of  men,  ho  niadua 
(iuHpi'ratu  otlbrt  to  regain  it.     Accordingly,  hiti  retiring  torcuo 
rallied  and  formed  with   this  object.     Aided  by  the  infantry, 
which  covered  the  houHC-tupti  (within  rea(;h  of  which  the  bat- 
tery had  been  moved  during  the  night,)  the  enefkiy'ti  whole  lino 
opened  upon  the  asHaulting  party  a  terrific  tire  of  muHketry, 
which  struck  down  eleven  out  of  fourteen  otHcers  that  coni- 
poHod  the  coinnumd,  and  non-conuniasioned  otticers  and  men  in 
proportion;  including  among  the  ofticera  Jirev.. Major  Wright, 
the  commander;  Capt.  Manon  and  Lieut.  boHter,  engineera;  all 
severely  wounded.     This  Bover'i  shock  staggered  for  a  moment 
that  gallant  band.     The  light  battalion,  held  to  cover  liuger's 
battery,  under  Capt.  £.  Kirby  Smith,  and  the  right  wing  of 
Ciidwalader's  brigade,  were  promptly  ordered  forward  to  stip- 
port,  which  order  was  executed  in  tlio  most  gallant  style;  the 
enemy  was  again  routed,  and  this  point  of  his  line  carried,  and 
fully  possessed  by  our  troops.     In  the  meantime,  Garland's 
brigade,  ably  sustained  by  Capt.   Drum's  artillery,  assaulted 
the  enemy's  loft,  and,  after  an  obstinate  and  very  severe  con- 
ttst,  drove  him   from  this  apparently  impregnable  position, 
imuiediatoly  under  the  guns  of   the  castle  of  Chapultepec. 
Drum's  section,  and.  the  battering  guns  under  Capt.  linger, 
advanced  to  the  enemy's  position,  and  the  captured  guns  of  the 
eneniy  were  now  opened  on  his  retreating  forces,  on  which  they 
continued  to  fire  until  beyond  their  reach.     While  this  work 
wa&  in  progress  of  accomplishment  by  tlie  center  and  right,  the 
troops  on  the  left  were  not  idle.     Duncan's  battery  opened  on 
the  right  of  the  enemy's  line,  up  to  this  time  engaged;  and 
the  second  brigade,  under  Col.  Mcintosh,  was  now  ordered  to 

♦  Gen.  Worth's  Report. 


PI' 


404 


onNQiKXT  or  Mvxu'o; 


HMHHiilt  tlti^  oxtriMiic  ri^lit  of  tlii>  ciiciiiy'H  linu.  Tint  <lirit'tiiiii 
of  tliiit  l)ri|{H<l(t  H(K»ti  ciiiimimI  it  to  muHk  DiincikirM  hiittrry,  tiio 
Hni  of  wliicli,  for  tlii^  iiiotiuMit,  wait  (liMnuitiiiiinl;  uidI  i||i> 
l»ri^iiil<*  mi«')V(m1  Htcudily  oii  to  tlio  uMHUult  of  Cumii  Mittit,  wliirh, 
iriHti'iid  of  uti  ordiiiury  tU'M  ('riticiiclttiicul,  uh  whm  hii|)|iii«i'i|, 
provtMl  to  Ih)  u  Mtt'oii^  Htoiio  citudi'l,  HiirroiiniU><t  with  lMiKtii)tii<<| 
tMitri>ii(>liiiuMitrt  liiid  iiiipHHMuhlo  ilitchcK  utt  old  SpuuiHli  M-ork, 
r(!C(>ritly  rcpiiiri'd  mid  ctiliit'^iil.  VVIirti  witliiii  cuhv  iiiiinkti 
mii^is  tli«  ciiiMiiy  op«>tu'd  u  niont  driidly  tin;  upon  tliu  itdviuK- 
ii\^  troopH,  which  wum  kept  up,  without  iiitcriniHHioii,  until  tlid* 
^lilluut  iiiiMi  ri<iu'h(!d  thft  very  H|op«>  of  tht)  piiriipet  of  the  \v<<rk 
that  HuiTouiidcd  tlii>  citadi'l.^  My  thirt  time  ii  luiyc  proporti  iii 
of  tho  coiuiiiaiid  wan  cithoi'  killed  or  Wouiidcd,  ani«>n^  wli' iiii 
were  the  three  Henior  ofllcerH  prt-Hent,  Mrevet-(y(d.  Mdiitmli, 
Hrevet  Iiieut.-C«)l.  Scott,  of  the  tifth  infantry,  and  Major  M  n\U\ 
eighth  infantry;  the  Kecond  killed,  and  the  Hrnt  and  IuhI  ilen- 
perately  wouruh'd.  Still,  the  tire  from  tiie  citadel  waH  uiuihiitHl, 
In  tluH  criHiri  of  tho  attack,  the  eonunand  wan  nioincntarily 
thrown  into  disorder,  antl  fell  hack  on  the  left  of  Diniicaii'n 
battery,  whore  they  rallied.  A«  tho  second  brigade  niovnl  to 
the  asBault,  a  very  large  eavalry  and  infantry  force  wa^  diKcov- 
ered  approaching  rapidly  U]»on  the  left  flank,  to  re-enforce  the 
enemy's  right.  Ah  soon  as  Duncan's  battery  was  nwiHkc'i,  m 
before  mentioned,  Bupporte<l  by  Andrews's  voltigeurs,  of  Cud- 
walader's  brigade,  it  moved  promptly  to  tho  extreme  left  of  the 
lino  to  check  the  threatencti  assault  on  this  ])oint.  The  ene- 
my's cavalry  came  rapidly  within  canister  range,  when  the 
whole  battery  opened  a  most  effective  fire,  whiel'i  s<»on  broke 
tho  squadrons  and  drove  them  back  in  disorder.  Dtiriiig  this 
fire  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Major  Sumner's  couuihuhI 
moved  to  the  front,  and  changed  direction  in  admirable  order, 
under  a  most  appalling  fire  from  tlie  (Jasa  ISfata.  This  tnove- 
ment  enabled  his  comnuind  to  cross  the  ravine  immediately  on 
the  left  of  Duncan's  battery,  where  it  remained,  doing  noble 
service  until  the  close  of  the  action.  At  the  very  moment  the 
cavalry  were  driven  beyond  reach,  the  American  troops  drew 
back  from  before  the  Casa  Mata,  and  enabled  tho  guns  of  Dun- 

*  Gen.  Worth's  Ueport. 


•  Ill,   Till    t>    UMKH    WAKM   or    iWii  r|>:Nt (-|(l>9'. 


4m 


'Y\u>  <lir«rtiiui 
jiiiV  huttrry,  tho 
iniinl;  iukI  Ihi) 
iiHii  Mtita,  wliicli, 

114   WIIM    Kllpji'iil'il, 

'*|  with  Itiihtiiitii'il 
III  Spiinixli  Work. 
Jiin  fiirtv  MMinkt't 
ipon  tlu^  lulvuiu- 
iiiiHHioii,  until  tii)o 
riiju't  of  tliu  wi>rk 
i  lurjijt'  |tr«»|inrti«(»n 

Ifd,  llMM'll^'  wll'  illl 

■t)t-(!«»l.  Mrliit'Hli. 
liiul  Major  M  iiiti', 
Hi'Ht  iiiul  liii^t  'l<'«- 
luU'l  wilt*  uniil>tii<'«l. 
wiiH  uioiiK'iitarily 
p  U'ft  of  Diiinciui'rt 
brij^iulo  miA'i'tl  to 
y  force  wiii>  (lifcov- 
c,  to  rt'-t'ii1iirci'  the 
■ry  wn»  inuHkcl,  at* 
roltigeurs,  of  (ikI- 
cxtreinc  left  of  the 
point.     The  cnc- 
rangc.  wht'ii   tlic 
whids  S(»on  Iti'oke 
•der.     During  tliis 
unnt'r'rt   comniiuul 
n  lulmirahle  order, 
Mata.     Tliis  niove- 
iie  iininttliately  on 
aiiied,  doing  noble 
very  moment  the 
lerican  troops  drew 


I 


the  guns  of  Dun- 


(<nii*ii   hutti'ry  to  n  <  pi'ii    iipoii  thin  position,  whitdi,  at't«  r  a 
fhort  and  >v»dl-<liiv' ^d  tirr,  th«'  riioiny  ahaiidoind.     'Ilu*  gim* 
of  tht*  hiitti*r\  wi'^re    <i)\v  ttiriM'd  upon  th«>  D-thating  f<diiiiiiiH, 
nnd  contiiint'd   t>i  jilay  upon   thriii   until   hcyoiid   n-ach.     Tho 
Mfxiraiin  wcro  riow  drivfii   from  t-vcry  point  of  tho  ticid,  and 
th«'ir  Hti'oiig  liiu'K,  which  had  certainly  hccii  drt'cndcd  wcll,w'i'ru 
ill  NVorth'it  poHHtuKioii.    In  fiiUllliiiciittd' tlu'  iiihtructituiHof  (ten. 
Scott,  the  ('ana  Mata  wan  Idown  up,  and  Huch  of  the  capturi'd 
uininunition   ai»  waM   UHtdcHM  to  the  AiiicriciiiiK,  an  widl  aH  tho 
cannon-ntouldh   found  in  K\  Molinon  del    \lv\,  were  t|(>Htroyc«h 
After    which,   Worth's   coiiiniaiKJ,    under    the  ordi-rH   of    tho 
general- in  chief,  returned   to  (piarterH  at  Tacuhaya,  with  three 
of  the  t'!u-itiy*ri  four  giiUH,  an  iiIho  a  large  (piantity  of  xiiiali 
ariiiH,  with  gun  and  musket  aiuinunition,  and  exceeding  eight 
hundred   priHoneiv,  including  tifty-two  coniiiUHHioned  otllcers. 
*  My  the  concurrent  te«tiinony  of  priKonerH,  the  t'liemyV  fiu'co 
I'xceedeil    fourteen  thoUHiind   men,  coininanile<|   hy  (ren.  Santa 
Anna  in  perri«>n.     II Ih  total  Iohh,  killed  (including  the  Kccoml 
and  third   in  eumtnaiul,  GeiiH.  Valdarez  an<l    Leon),  wounded, 
mid  priMonei'H,  amounted  to  three  thousand,  exduHive  of  Home 
two  tln»U8and  who  deHerted  after  the  rout.     WorthV  command, 
re-enforced  as  before  stated,  oidy  reached  three  thouBand  one 
hundred  men  of  all  arms.     The  contest  continue<l  two  hours, 
mid  its  severity  was  painfully  attested  hy   tho  heavy  loss  of 
American    otticers,    non-commissioned   otticers,   and    privates, 
including  in  the  tirst  two  classes  sumo  uf  the  brightest  orna- 
ments of  the  service. 

Hut  why  horrity  the  reader  with  all  the  bloody  details  of  this 
siege?  A  series  of  battles  of  forty -eight  hour's  continuance 
followed  AVorth's  triumph  at  Molinon  del  Key,  after  which,  on 
the  fourteenth  of  Sej)tember,  l>s47,  (len.  Scott's  gU>riou8  army 
hoisted  tlie  flag  of  the  United  States  on  the  walls  of  tlio 
National  Palace  of  Mexico.  Imimidiately  ou  entering  the 
Palace,  the  f»)llowing  i)rder  was  issued: 

"  The  general-in-chief  calls  upon  his  brethren  in  arms  to 
return  both  in  public  and  private  worship,  thanks  and  gratitude 
to  God  for   tlie   sigmd   triumphs  which   they  have  recently 

•  Cien.  Worth's  Ut'iiort. 


V. 


496 


ooNQUwrr  of  mexioo: 


achieved  for  their  country,  lieginninp  with  the  nineteontli  of 
August,  this  army  has  gallantly  fought  its  way  through  the 
fields  and  forts  of  Contrcras,  San  Antonio,  Ghurubusco,  Molinos 
del  Rey,  Chapultupec  and  the  gates  of  San  Casone  and  Tacii- 
baya  or  Bel6n,  into  the  Capital  of  Mexico.  W^hen  the  very 
limited  numbers  who  have  performed  these  brilliant  deeds  shall 
have  become  known,  the  world  will  be  astonished  and  our  own 
countrymen  filled  with  joy  and  admiration.  But  all  is  not  yet 
done.  The  enemy,  though  scattered  and  dismayed,  has  still 
many  fragments  of  his  late  army  hovering  about  us,  and,  aided 
by  an  exasperated  population,  he  may  again  reunite  in  treble 
our  numbers,  and  fall  upon  us  to  advantage  if  we  rest  inactive 
on  the  security  of  past  victories."     *    * 

Retiring  from  the  capital.  Gen.  Santa  Anna  collected  several 
fragments  of  his  army,  and  laid  siege  to  Puebla,  whicli  was 
poorly  garrisoned.  The  siege  was  prosecuted  with  considerable 
vigor  for  twenty-eight  days,  and  nobly  repulsed  by  the  com- 
mander, Col.  Childs,  who  had  been  left  to  guard  the  place  with 
a  feeble  garrison.  And  here,  without  following  Gens.  Scott 
and  Butler  through  all  the  war  of  detail  that  completed  the 
conquest  of  Mexico,  or  the  military  and  diplomatic  disputes 
that  finally  terminated  in  a  peace  between  that  country  and 
the  United  States,  we  will  return  to  the  main  current  of  our 
narrative,  from  which  I  have  so  widely  diverged — the  wars  with 
the  Indians. 


', ) 


w 


l\ 


lie  ninetecntli  of 
ray  through  the 
rubuBco,  Molinos 
laBone  and  Tacn- 

When  the  very 
illiant  deeds  shall 
ihed  and  our  own 
But  all  is  not  yet 
smayed,  has  still 
out  UB,  and,  aided 

reunite  in  treble 
f  we  rest  inactive 

a  collected  several 
?uebla,  whic.i  was 
I  with  considerable 
ilsed  by  the  com- 
lard  the  place  with 
wing  Gens.  Scott 
hat  completed  the 
iplomatic  disputes 
that  country  and 
lin  current  of  our 
red — the  wars  with 


CHAPTER    LXII. 

Wars  with  thb  Indians  in  New  Mexico— The  Masbacre  of  thb 
White  Family — Brdtality  of  the  Apaches  — Tub  Warb  with 
Utahb  and  Apaciieb— The  Settlements  in  New  Mexico  In- 
vaded  bt  Hostile  Indians  —  A  fiRiLLiANT  Comfant  ~  Seven 
Battles — Peace. 

Let  us  now  return  to  New  Mexico,  which  has  become  a 
part  of  our  own  truly  great   nation.     No  sooner   had   the 
United  States  forces  occupied  that  territory  than  the  neigh- 
boring Indians  raised  the  hatchet  in  defiance.     The  insolence 
of  the  Mexican  settlers  had  wrought  hard  upon  their  native 
tiiirst  for  vengeance,  and  the  presence  of  an  American  mili- 
tary force  irritated  their  rage  to  fury.     At  this  time,  1848-9, 
Col.  Beall  was  commanding  the  United  States  forces  in  New 
Mexico,  and  had  established  his  headquarters  at  Taos.    The 
Indians  with  whom  he  liad  to  deal  were,  for  the  most   part, 
Apaches,  who,  among  all  the  western  tribes  have  given   the 
United   States   government    the   most  trouble.      They   were 
never  to  be  trusted.     In  war  they  were  treacherous,  in  peace 
tliey  were    always    finding   cause  for    new  quarrels.       But 
we  must  not  suppose    that    these  constant   outbreaks   were 
always    without   a    reason — a   cause   sometimes  founded  in 
just  complaint.     The    savages   were   not  always  to  blame. 
They  were  not  responsible  for  their  creation,  and  it  is  unrea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  they  should  have  put  themselves  to 
death,  with  a  view  to  accommodating   American    pioneers — 
or  even   to  quietly  submit  to  having  their    best    hunting 
grounds  taken  from  them  without  making  a  faint  resistance. 
The  Indian  had  a  right  to  make  war  upon  the  Americans; 
his  only  wrong  was  in  not  conquering  them — a  wrong  for 
vliicli  his  race  has  suffered  total  extermination.    As  a  rule, 
32  (497) 


408 


TROUUr.K    WITH    THE    WIOSTEIIN    INDIANS! 


the  Indians,  and  more  especially  the  western  tribes,  have  been 
held  to  a  strict  account  for  their  depredations  upon  the  whites. 
No  one  should  complain  of  this,  not  even  the  Indians  them- 
selves.  Unhappily,  on  the  contrary,  those  who  have  been 
appointed  ovei  them  in  otficial  position  by  the  United  States 
government,  have  not  been  held  to  a  strict  account  for  tlieir 
depredations  upon  the  savages.  But  the  savages  had  no  repre- 
sentatives in  Congress;  they  had  orators,  but  no  statesmen, 
and  the  story  of  their  wrongs  will  die  with  them,  unless  a 
jealous  nation  shall  perpetuate  it  in  history. 

The  Apaches  were  an  obstinate  race  of  Indians.  They  were 
brave,  too,  for  the  chief  source  of  their  ruin  has  been  the 
battle-field.  Long  before  the  United  States  troops  entered 
Now  Mexico,  these  tierce  natives  had  been  a  terror  to  the 
Spanish  settlers  there.  They  had  invaded  the  settlements  from 
every  quarter,  and  it  required  every  exertion  of  the  Mexicans 
to  hold  "them  in  check.  For  ten  long  years  the  Apaches  had 
at  frequent  intervals,  invaded  the  settlements  of  this  interior 
Mexican  state  with  furious  onset,  spreading  the  terrors  of  massa- 
cre throughout  the  peaceful  villages.  But  now,  in  1848,  their 
progress  was  barred  by  the  arms  of  a  superior  foe. 

No  sooner  had  Col.  Beall  been  appointed  to  the  office  already 
mentioned,  than  he  became  possessed  of  the  conviction  which 
has  ever  invaded  the  breasts  of  United  States  officers  on  attain- 
ing a  similar  position — that  the  only  sure  plan  of  making 
peace  with  the  Indians  was  to  exterminate  them.  Witli  thi? 
righteous  determination  he  despatched  a  junior  officer  with  a 
strong  force,  with  orders  to  pursue  the  Apaches,  overt«ke 
them,  and  punish  them.  The  order  was  obeyed,  and  the  expe- 
dition started.  Tliis  time,  however,  providence  had  defended 
the  savages.  The  snow  was  too  deep  for  the  pursuit,  and  the 
gallant  array  returned  to  Taos.  But  Col.  Beall  was  dissatisfied, 
and  atlter  listening  to  the  report  of  his  subordinate  officer  he 
replied:  "  that  there  was  no  such  word  as  impracticability  in 
the  soldiers  vocabulary,  and  that  nothing  ought  to  be  impossi- 
ble for  the  first  regiment  of  United  States  Dragoons  to  accom- 
plish." Col.  Beall  took  the  detachment  under  his  own  imme- 
diate command,  and  with  the  famous  Kit  Carson  as  guide,  he 


V. 


duns: 

a  tribes,  have  been 
[19  upon  the  whites, 
the  IndianB  theni- 
se  who  have  been 
•  the  United  States 
it  account  for  their 
vages  had  no  repre- 
,  but  no  statesmen, 
with  thorn,  unless  a 

[ndians.    They  were 
ruin  has  been  the 
;ate8  troops  entered 
,een  a  terror  to  the 
the  settlements  from 
tion  of  the  Mexicans 
iars  the  Apaches  had 
nents  of  this  interior 
r  the  terrors  of  massa- 
t  now,  in  1848,  theii 
jrior  foe. 

d  to  the  office  already 
the  conviction  which 
ites  officers  on  attain- 
lure  plan  of  making 
itethem.    With  this 
junior  officer  with  a 
le  Apaches,  overtake 
[obeyed,  and  the  expe- 
ridence  had  defended 
the  pursuit,  and  the 
Beall  was  dissatisfied, 
subordinate  officer  he 
as  impracticability  in 
ought  to  be  impossi- 
!B  Dragoons  to  accom- 
under  his  own  imme- 
t  Carson  as  guide,  he 


OR,  THE  BORDKR   WARS  OF  TWO   ORNTURIDS. 


499 


set  out  for  the  country  of  the  Apaches.  It  was  a  long  and 
fatiguing  march,  and  required  all  the  courage  and  persever- 
ance of  the  men  and  animals,  but  the  rugged  mountains  were 
crossed,  and  fruitless  days  spent  in  the  valley  beyond  in  the 
search  for  the  enemy.  At  length,  when  signs  of  Indians  were 
no  where  to  be  found,  the  dragoons  turned  their  faces  homo- 
ward,  but  as  they  were  slowly  making  a  difficult  mountain 
pass,  known  as  the  Sangre  de  Christo,  a  village  of  the  hostile 
Indians  suddenly  appeared  before  them.  A  charge  was 
ordered,  but  the  tired  animals  could  make  so  little  progress  in 
the  deep  snow  that  all  the  savages,  except  two  old  chiefs,  made 
their  escape  in  safety.  Col.  Beall  gave  these  men  a  severe 
"talk"  and  dismissed  them,  after  which  his  tired  dragoons 
were  permitted  to  return  to  Taos. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  military  commander  of  New  Mex- 
ico received  intelligence  that  his  Apache  enemies  had  committed 
another  wicked  murder,  the  details  of  which  are  heartrending. 
A  Santa  F6  merchant  had  been  to  the  United  States  for  the 
purpose  of  purchasing  a  supply  of  goods.  On  his  return  the 
train  was  escorted  by  a  small  f^rce  of  men.  The  prairies  and 
mountains  had  been  crossed  in  safety,  and  the  caravan  was 
nearing  Santa  F6,  when  Mr.  White,  thinking  that  all  danger 
had  been  passed,  drove  in  advance  with  his  private  carriage,  in 
which  he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  child.  A  few  men 
brought  up  the  immediate  rear  as  an  escort.  He  had  proceeded 
but  a  few  miles  when  he  was  attacked  by  a  band  of  Apaches. 
The  Indians  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  rocks  on  either 
Bide  of  the  trail,  and  as  the  carriage  neared  their  hiding  places 
they  poured  forth  a  volley  upon  the  travelers  with  terrible 
effect.  Every  man  in  the  escort,  including  Mr.  Wliite,  fell 
pierced  by  Indian  bullets.  But  Mrs.  White  and  her  child  were 
reserved  for  the  horrors  of  captivity. 

As  soon  as  the  news  of  this  disaster  reached  New  Mexico,  a 
command  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  the  Indi- 
ans, and,  if  possible,  rescuing  Mrs.  White.  In  due  time  this 
party  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  butchery  had  been  con- 
summated. Here  were  many  evidences  of  Indian  cruelty,  but 
the  exasperated  party  did  not  wait  long  to  examine  these. 


V 


500 


TKOIMII.K    Wmi    TlIK    WFKFKKN    INPIANS. 


Finding  tiie  trail,  they  purBiied  the  savages  for  twelve  days 
before  coming  up  with  them.  During  the  march  tliey  met 
many  evidences  wliich  convinced  them  that  Mrs.  White  was 
still  living.  At  the  camping  grounds  of  the  savages  wore 
found  several  remnants  of  her  dress,  which  appeared  to  have 
been  torn  from  her  in  a  struggle  with  lier  captives.  At  len^ifth 
the  enemy  was  in  full  view.  At  this  critical  point  the  Amer- 
icans stopped  to  hold  a  consultation  as  to  the  best  mode  of 
attacking  the  savages.  This  was  a  fatal  mistake,  for  liad  tliey 
charged  upon  the  enemy  Mrs.  White  might  have  been  rescued 
alive.  Yet  there  was  little  to  be  regretted.  Her  person  was 
so  fearfully  mutilated  that  she  could  not  have  long  survived 
the  shock.  The  position  of  her  body  showed  that  a  bullet  had 
pierced  her  heart  while  attempting  to  escape  to  her  friends, 
whom  she  had  observed.  Her  child  had  fallen  a  prey  to  the 
merciless  tomahawk,  many  days  before. 

In  this  affair  the  Americans  succeeded  in  killing  but  three 
warriors,  wounding  several  others,  and  capturing  the  camp 
equippage.  On  their  return  they  wei  .  overtaken  by  a  terrible 
snow  storm,  from  which  one  of  their  men  perished. 

But  it  will  be  impossible  to  mention  all  the  outbreaks  which 
have  characterized  the  border  wars  between  the  settlers  of  New 
Mexico  and  the  Apache  Indians,  in  this  volume.  I  have  space 
only  to  describe  some  of  the  more  important  battles  of  tliis 
war.  When  Kit  Carson  was  appointed  to  the  position  of 
Indian  Agent  at  Taos,  in  New  Mexico,  the  Apaches  were  at  the 
height  of  their  discontent,  and  with  every  day  came  reports  of 
theif  lawless  acts.  The  settlers  in  Northern  New  Mexico  had 
been  driven  from  their  homes,  robbed  and  murdered,  and  the 
savage  invaders,  gloating  over  their  success,  were  fast  becoming 
bolder  in  their  attacks.  Lieut.  Bell,  of  the  Second  Regiment 
of  United  States  dragoons,  waa  now  sent  against  these  Indians. 
After  a  short  march  he  came  upon  them  on  the  Red  river,  and 
at  once  made  an  attack.  At  first  the  savages  returned  their 
fire,  but  the  soldiers  made  repeated  charges,  and  penetrated 
through  and  through  the  Indian  ranks.  They  were  compelled 
to  fall  back  and  retreat.  In  this  battle  the  Apaches  lost  many 
warriors.     Among  the  slain  was  their  principal  chief,  whose 


OR,   'HIE    IK>RnKR    WAR8   OF   TWO   (JKNTURIKH. 


ftOl 


death  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  tribe.     The  ArnericaiiH  lost  two 
soldiers  killed,  and  several  seriously  wounded. 

Not  more  than  ten  days  after  this  battle  news  was  received 
at  Taos  that  a  strong  band  of  Apache  warriors  was  encamped 
ill  the  mountains,  not  twenty  miles  distant.     This  report  was 
soon  confirmed   by  the  hostile  appearance  of  these  Indians 
among  the  settlements,  which  resulted  in  one  of  the  most 
thrilling  battles  ever  fought  by  American  soldiers  against  ihe 
Apaches.     It  was  as  follows:    Lieut.  Davidson  (now  Lieulen- 
ant-Colonel  of   the   Tenth    United   States    cavalry),    with   » 
command  of  sixty  men  belonging  to  the  P^irst  regiment  of 
United   States  dragoons,  started  out   to  repulse  the   savage 
invaders.     He  marched  to  the  Emhuda  mountains^  where  he 
came  upon  the  enemy.    The  Indians  were  prepared  for  the 
assault,  having  taken  a  strong  position.    The  strength  of  the 
Apaches  in  this  contest  was  two  hundred  and  forty  warriors, 
and  the  advantages  of  their  position  seemed  to  defy  approach. 
After  a  consultation  with  his  officers,  Lieut.  Davidson  concluded 
to  make  an  attempt  to  draw  the  savages  from  their  position  by 
proposing  to  hold  a  talk  with  them.     This  plan  failed,  and  he 
next  resolved  to  hazard  an  attack.     He  ordered  his  men  to 
dismount,  and  leaving  the  horses  in  charge  of  a  small  guard, 
the  soldiers  began  the  ascent  of  the  mountain  for  the  purpose 
of  reaching  the  stronghold  of  the  enemy.     They  succeeded  in 
dislodging  the  savages,   with  the  loss  of  five  of  their  men 
killed,  notwithstanding  they  met  with  a  desperate  resistance; 
but  when  the  brave  soldiers  reached  the  top  of  the  mountain, 
they  found,  to  their  great  disappointment,  that  instead  of  taking 
to  flight,  the  Indians  were  surrounding  them.     Lieut.  Davidson 
now  faced  his  little  command  about  and  commenced  the  return 
march,  with  a  view  of  saving  their  horses.     During  this  march 
botli  soldiers  and  Indians  fought  with  commendable  courage. 
The  latter  obstinately  contested  every  inch  of  the  ground,  but 
the  former,  after  a  severe  struggle,  secured  the  animals.    How- 
ever, the  fight  did  not  end  here.    The  Indians  became  bolder 
at  seeing  the  weakness  of  the  Americans,  and,  confident  in  the 
superiority  of  their  own  numbers,  they  continued  tlie  pursuit 
with  great  energy.     When  the  horses  had  been  reached,  the 


502 


TKOIIHI.K    WITH    TIIK    WKHTKUN    INDIANM: 


soldiers  faced  about  and  threw  back  a  volley  at  their  puraiiurD, 
but  the  Indians  were  so  well  secured  behind  trees  that  the  bulU 
were  spent  in  vain.  At  this  point  Lieut.  Davidson  ordered  a 
retreat.  Seeing  this  the  savages  took  new  courage,  and  charged 
down  the  mountain,  yelling  the  war  whoop,  and  rushing  upon 
the  soldiers.  The  latter  beat  them  off  with  their  guns,  but 
the  Indians  pursued  the  retreating  party  with  such  boldness, 
that,  by  the  time  they  reached  the  road  in  the  valley  atthetuot 
of  the  mountain,  twenty  of  their  men  had  been  killed,  and 
nearly  all  the  survivors  wounded.  Thus  two  hundred  and  forty 
Apaches  had  driven  back  sixty  soldiers,  killing  one-third  of 
them,  and  wounding  nearly  every  one  who  escaped  death. 

When  the  news  of  this  disaster  reached  Taos,  the  inhabitants 
became  greatly  excited.  An  expedition  was  immediately 
formed  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  in  the  dead  bodies  of  the 
fallen  soldiers,  in  which  both  Americans  and  Mexicans  freely 
volunteered.  On  reaching  the  field  the  dea(^  were  found,  but 
the  bodies  were  horribly  mutilated  and  stripped  of  all  clothing. 

No  sooner  had  this  expedition  returned  to  Taos  than  a  large 
body  of  American  troops  were  made  ready  to  pursue  and 
punish  the  Apaches,  who  had  gained  a  victory  over  Lieut. 
Davidson's  command.  This  expedition  was  commanded  by 
Ool.  Cook,  of  the  second  regiment  of  United  States  dragoons. 
Besides  the  regulars,  Col.  Cook  employed  for  this  expedition 
some  forty  men  selected  from  the  Mexican  and  Pueblo  Indians. 
These  were  to  be  used  as  spies,  on  account  of  their  familiarity 
with  Indian  habits.  They  were  commanded  by  James  H. 
Quinn,  a  well  known  and  prominent  citizen  ot  New  Mexico. 

Col.  Cook's  command  marched  from  Taos,  ten  miles  north 
to  a  stream  known  as  Arroya  Hondo,  and  thence  to  the  Eio 
del  Norte.  The  fording  of  this  river  was  attended  with  many 
difficulties,  but  was  executed  in  a  gallant  manner  by  the 
soldiers.  On  the  opposite  shore  new  difficulties  were  presented. 
In  their  front  rose  a  precipice  at  least  six  hundred  feet  in 
height.  Up  the  zigzag  trail  in  this  rocky  bank,  the  soldiers 
bent  their  course,  and  after  a  tedious  effiart  they  mounted  the 
summit  and  commenced  their  journey  over  a  rough  country,  in 
which  they  continued  for  six  davs  before  the  Indians  were 


OK,    TIIK   IMHU)KK   WAKfl  OK    •WO   CKNTUKIKh. 


S()3 


overhauled.  Tlie  band  of  Apachus  liad  been  traveling 
slowly,  and  their  aniinula  were,  consequently,  in  good  spirits, 
while,  on  the  contrary,  the  horses  of  the  Americans  were  nearly 
exhausted.  Thus  when  their  strength  was  most  needed,  it  was 
too  far  spent  to  be  of  much  service.  Tlie  Indians  discovered 
their  pursuers  in  time  to  make  their  escape,  not  however, 
without  losing  many  of  tlieir  warriors  and  most  of  their  camp 
equipage.  Thus,  after  a  long  and  wearisome  march,  the 
soldiers  were  compelled  to  return,  without  rendering  their 
enemies  the  justice  they  so  richly  deserved. 

Soon  ailer,  another  expedition  against  the  Apaches  was 
undertaken  by  Major  Brooks,  of  the  Third  Eegiment  of  United 
States  dragoons.  He  had  no  difficulty  in  discovering  the  trail 
of  the  enemy,  but  it  soon  led  him  into  the  country  of  the 
Utahs,  where  it  was  crossed  and  re-crossed  by  the  trails  of  the 
Utahs  until  his  guides  could  not  tell  the  Apache  from  the 
Utah  trail.  The  result  of  this  was  that  his  command,  after 
being  on  the  march  fifteen  days,  was  compelled  to  return  with- 
out accomplishing  anything. 

But  these  hostile  Indians  were  not  permitted  to  escape 
without  further  punishment.  Another  expedition  was  made 
ready  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Major  Carlton,  of  the 
First  Eegiment  of  United  States  dragoons.  The  march  was 
taken  up,  and  in  due  time  the  trail  was  discovered  which  led 
to  the  Indian  encampment  on  "  Fisher's  Peak  "  in  the  Eaton 
mountains.  Climbing  to  the  summit,  they  routed  the  Indians 
with  a  heavy  loss,  capturing  about  forty  horses  and  nearly  all 
their  camp  equipage. 

But  these  details  soon  resulted  in  a  formidable  Indian  war. 
Outrages  had  been  committed  upon  the  Utahs,  and  this  nation 
waited  only  the  distribution  of  their  annuities  before  joining 
the  Apaches  against  the  settlements.  And  now  the  forests  of 
New  Mexico  were  filled  with  hostile  savages,  who  were  pre- 
paring to  rush  upon  the  villages,  painted  for  battle.  Travelers 
were  waylaid  and  murdered,  towns  were  attacked  and  the 
inhabitants  murdered  or  made  captives.  Thus  matters  con- 
tinued until  evej'y  settlement  in  New  Mexico  was  filled  with 
consternation.    Terror  seized  the  defenseless  inhabitants,  but 


TKOUBLK    WITH    TIIK    WKHTKKN    IMMANn: 


thoro  WM  no  way  open  for  mercy  in  Hight,  tor  the  isolate*] 
towHH  of  this  territory  wore  fur  nwuy  from  a  place  of  refuse. 
Iiuliati  (leprediitioiiH  wore  cotitiniied  until  nearly  half  the  hor8es, 
mules,  cattle  and  sheep  in  the  territory  were  captured  by  the 
aavHgvs. 

The  Utuhs,  by  whose  strong,  fierce  warriors  the  ApuchcH  hud 
been  re-enforced,  were  led  to  battle  by  their  renowned  war 
chief  Blanco,  who  had  become  famous  in  all  the  west  for  great 
bravery  and  skill  in  war.  Being  thus  strengthened,  the  ravages 
set  the  Unite<l  States  forces  at  defiance.  At  Fort  Massachii. 
setts,  in  northern  New  Mexico,  attaira  soon  became  critical. 
It  was  impossible  to  leave  the  fort  without  falling  into  the 
merciless  hands  of  the  lurking  savages,  and  the  towns  for 
many  miles  around  disappeared  in  smoke  and  flame,  while  the 
inliabitants  either  perished  under  the  tomahawk,  or  were 
made  prisoners.  At  length  the  fort  became  an  object  of  con- 
quest, and  the  savages  congregated  in  tlie  neigliboring  forest 
for  the  purpose  of  laying  plans  for  the  destruction  of  the  little 
garrison.  Every  precaution  was  taken  by  the  troops  to  save 
the  fort.  Breastworks  were  thrown  up  on  the  block  house 
attached  to  the  fort,  so  that  the  soldiers  could  be  well  protected 
in  case  of  an  attack.  Sentinels  were  posted  in  these,  and  the 
the  guards  were  doubled.  Preparations  were  also  made  against 
fire,  and  every  step  calculated  to  ensure  safety  was  taken,  and 
it  was  well  that  these  precautionary  measures  wei'e  taken,  for 
it  was  afterwards  discovered  that  the  savages  remained  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  fort  several  days,  waiting  in  vain  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  attack  it. 

It  was  not  possible  that  this  state  of  affairs  should  long  con- 
tinue without  some  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  United  States 
authorities  in  New  Mexico.  The  Governor  issued  a  proclama- 
tion calling  upon  the  people  to  volunteer  for  the  purpose  of 
defending  their  lives  and  property,  and  of  repelling  the  savages. 
The  call  was  promptly  responded  to,  and  in  a  few  days  six  com- 
panies, each  containing  eighty  volunteers,  were  mounted  and 
equipped.  The  troops  had  the  power  to  elect  their  own  ofiicers, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Governor.  Each 
man  furnishetl  himself  with  a  horse,  and  was  to  receive  thirty 


anh: 


OH,   TIIK    IMtRDKR   WaW  n¥  iWO   ('KNTURIIW. 


ft05 


,  tor  tlio  isoUtct] 
,  a  place  of  refill'. 
rly  Imlf  the  liorscs 
0  iMiptiired  by  tlie 

H  tlie  Apuelies  hml 
eir  renowned  wur 
the  west  tor  greiit 
thoned,  tlio  saviiges 
Lt  B^ort  MuBsacliii- 
in  became  criticiil. 
it  falling  into  the 
and  the  towns  for 
nd  tlanie,  while  the 
omahawk,  or  were 
le  an  object  of  con- 
neighboring  forest 
auction  of  the  little 
iT  the  troops  to  nave 
n  the  block  houso 
d  be  well  protected 
in  these,  and  the 
re  also  made  against 
fety  was  taken,  and 
urea  wei-e  taken,  for 
res  remained  in  the 
vain  for  an  oppor- 

irs  should  long  con- 
of  the  United  States 

issued  a  ^roclauia- 
for  the  purpose  of 
spelling  the  savages. 

a  few  days  six  coni- 
werc  mounted  and 
!t  their  own  officers. 
Governor.  Each 
as  to  receive  thirty 


(Inllars  |)er  month  from  the  government  for  bis  scrviceM.  Mr. 
Ceran  St.  Vruin,  of  T«oh,  was  selected  as  the  leader  of  the  \oU 
unteers,  luiving  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-CJoIonel  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  Governor.  His  appointment  was  received  by  the 
people  with  approval,  for  with  such  a  force,  and  witb  m»  bravo 
and  judicious  a  commander,  they  felt  that  they  wer<y*'to  bo 
delivered  from  the  constant  and  increasing  hostilitiWi'  of  tho 
Indians.  Early  in  February,  1856,  Col.  T.  T.  Fauntleroy 
arrived  at  Taos  from  Fort  Union,  a  post  not  very  far  distant, 
in  that  Territory.  By  orders  from  the  War  Department,  C^)l. 
Fauntleroy  had  been  appointed  to  the  chief  command  of  the 
whole  expedition.  His  command,  when  completed,  consisted 
of  four  companies  of  Mexican  volunteers,  two  companies  of 
dragoons,  one  company  of  artillery,  who  were  performing  duty 
as  a  ritle  corps,  and  one  company  of  spies.  Tho  other  two 
companies  of  volunteers  were  sent  out  to  protect  some  of  the 
frontier  towns  from  further  Indian  depredations.  The  artillery 
company  was  not  mounted,  but  succeeded  in  keeping  up  with 
the  horses  when  the  mountains  had  been  reached. 

With  Kit  Carson  as  guide,  tho  troops  under  Col.  Fauntleroy 
set  out  for  Fort  Massachusetts.    Reaching  this  post,  they  wasted 
no  time,  but  continued  in  the  direction  of  tho  hostile  Indians. 
The  march  from  Fort  Massachusetts   to  the   mountains  by 
the  route  of  the  great  cation  of  the  Rio  Grande  del  Norte,  was 
attended  with  many  hardships^,  which  were  not  decreased  by 
its  continuation  to  the  Saquachi  Pass,  bordering  the  valley  of 
San  Luis.     At  this  point  the  main  trail  of  the   Indians  was 
discovered,  and  subsequently  the   Indians  themselves.      The 
latter  were  in  their  war  dress,  about  two  hundred  and  Hfty 
strong,  and  on  seeing  the  advance  company  of  spies,  arrayed 
themselves  in  battle  order  to  receive  them.    Tlie  spies  pre- 
tended to  be  arranging  for  an  attack,  when  really  they  were  only 
holding  the  attention  of  the  savages  until  the  volunteers  should 
arrive.     In  the  meantime  the  great  war  chief,  Blanco,  was  seen 
riding  to  and  fro  in  front  of  his  lines,  giving  orders,  and  appar- 
ently in  high  hope  of  victory.      When  the  main  body  had 
advanced  to  the  proper  point,  being  still  unobserved  by  the 
savages  they  prepared  for  the  charge.     In  a  moment  more  the 


«06 


TROUIiUC    WITH   TIIK    WMirKKM    INIHANM: 


bugle  Bonndod  thu  command,  and  away  daiihod  the  onthniiiaiitic 
Buldiuni,  eager  for  the  buttle.  Ah  they  galloped  in  sight  the 
Indians  Haw  the  truth  of  their  situation,  and  turned  to  tly,  but 
for  many  of  them  it  was  too  late.  In  a  few  minutes  the  hoI- 
diers  were  among  them,  and  the  work  of  slaughter  commenued. 
The  savages  wasted  no  time  to  return  the  Hre,  but  kept  up  the 
flight,  their  ranks  thinning  by  the  steady  tire  of  the  volunteiTS 
us  they  advanced  along  the  valley.  Tlie  running  fight  was  con> 
tinned  for  nearly  eight  miles,  when  the  Indians  who  hud  not 
fallen  escaped  to  the  mountains.  On  the  following  morning 
the  volunteers  made  preparations  and  started  in  pursuit  of  tiui 
Indians,  which  they  kept  up  for  several  days.  Finally  they 
discovered  the  enemy,  and  after  a  hard  fight  they  routed  them 
a  second  time,  with  severe  loss.  Having  thus  thoroughly  pun- 
ished these  hostile  Indians,  the  whole  command  returned  to 
Fort  Massachusetts.  In  tliis  campaign  Col.  Fauntleroy*s  little 
Army  suflfered  no  loss  beyond  a  few  sliglitly  wounded.  The 
Mexicans  had  shown  themselves  worthy  so  bruve  a  commander, 
and  had  executed  his  orders  with  a  firmness  and  gallantry  truly 
commendable. 

Tlie  command  remained  at  this  post  for  several  months, 
recruiting  their  tired  and^woary  animals,  and  preparing  for  a 
new  campaign.  When  the  preparations  had  been  completed, 
the  soldiers  were  divided  into  two  parties,  one  under  Col.  St. 
Vrain,  and  the  other  under  Ool.  Fauntleroy.  The  latter  com- 
mander proceeded  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Arkansas,  where  he 
<same  upon  a  fresh  trail,  which  led  directly  to  u  large  village  of 
Apaches  and  Utahs,  which  was  discovered  by  the  Americans, 
whose  presence  was  unobserved  by  the  Indians.  When  the 
command  reached  an  eminence  commanding  a  view  of  the  vil- 
lage, its  occupants  were  engaged  in  a  war  and  scalp  dance, 
making  such  hideous  noises  that  they  did  not  hear  the  sound 
of  the  approaching  soldiers.  They  were  having  a  merry  time, 
not  dreaming  of  danger,  when  a  volley  of  rifle  balls  was  poured 
in  upon  them,  striking  down  many  of  the  foremost  partici- 
pants. The  surprise  was  complete,  and  so  benumbed  with  fear 
and  consternation  were  the  savages  that  they  knew  not  which 
way  to  turn  for  flight.    Many  of  their  bravest  warriors  were 


OK,   TIIK    IKiKhKK   WAKM   OK  TWo   (  KNTirKIIOI. 


m 


pilot  down  heforo  tho  real  daii^tr  wa*  undurMtood.  Tlio  nun- 
vivori  fluw  to  tho  wood*  for  refuge,  leaving  evorytliing  lH)hiii(i. 
A  few  of  tho  warriori),  however,  soized  their  ritlos  and  rctunic<l 
tho  tiro  of  tho  loldierH,  killing  two,  and  ftoverel}^  wounding  four 
others. 

In  this  contest  our  soldiora  won  a  splendid  victory  for  }H!ace, 
for  the  lesson,  although  severe,  proved  a  lusting  roinindor  to 
those  forgetful  savages.  In  this  affair  the  Indians  lost  all  their 
provisions,  ammunition,  horses,  and  camp  equipage,  besides 
a  large  stock  of  valuable  furs.  It  was  the  severest  blow  the 
IJtuhs  and  Apaches  ever  received  at  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  government,  and  was  richly  deserved. 

Not  satistied  with  this  victory.  Col.  Fauntleroy  pnrsnod  a 
trail  which  led  to  a  village  in  which  the  celebrated  Blanco 
resided.  Coming  upon  this,  the  savages  were  routed  with  a 
heavy  loss  of  their  best  warriors;  and  so  hotly  were  they  pur- 
sued that  the  bravo  Blanco  came  out  upon  a  rock  in  the 
mountain  side  and  asked  the  white  chief  in  the  plain  below  to 
grant  him  a  ''  talk."  lie  said  liis  men  were  tired  of  war,  and 
were  anxious  to  conclude  a  lasting  peace  with  their  white 
brethren.  In  another  moment  a  ball  went  whizzing  by  his 
head,  which  had  been  discliarged  from  a  Mexican's  rifle  for  the 
purpose  of  dispatching  him,  but  which  had  missed  its  object. 
Blanco  disappeared  suddenly.  After  scouring  the  country  for 
many  miles  around,  and  severely  chastising  the  Indians  where- 
evor  they  could  be  found,  Col.  Fauntleroy  returned  to  Fort 
Massachusetts,  where,  to  his  great  satisfaction,  lie  learned  that 
€ol.  St.  Vrain,  who  had  been  sent  out  as  before  mentioned, 
had  also  encountered  several  strong  bands  of  Indians,  and  dis- 
persed them  all  with  a  severe  chastisement. 

I  ought,  perhaps,  at  tl»is  point,  to  explain  that  the  Fort 
Massachusetts  here  referred  to  is  not  the  one  occupied  at  the 
present  time.  The  one  spoken  of  here  was  abandoned  some 
years  ago,  and  another  bearing  the  same  name  was  erected  six 
miles  from  the  original  site,  on  the  river  Trinchera. 

Cols.  Fauntleroy  and  St.  Vrain  had  thus  terminated  a  bril- 
liant Indian  campaign.     The  Utahs  and  Apaches  had  been 


608 


TKiu'm.K  wrnt   iiik  wmtiun  imuann; 


«>ngi4(U(l  iti  Huvcn  ItuttloH,  luxl  liml  Im'^ii  routol  m  uuiuy  tiiiif«- 
with  tlio  loHH  ot'iill  tliuir  oiiiiip  oriiiipii^o  utid  over  fivu  hiiii(lri!(l 
horitt'H.     liviufif  tliUM  (lut'eiitod  urul  puii.Hhod  on  vvvry  liuml,  tlay 
§\m\  for  pc>aco,  wliicli  wnMgruiitud  tlieiii  in  H)(riiii<l  council  hfld 
nt  Siuitii  Vd. 


OIIAPTKU    LXIII. 
TiiR  Navajo  Indianh  Join   tiik   Ukiikiji-^  Tiikih  IIohtii.r  Am-nmE 

—  (UnNON  liRAM  AM  ARMT  AOAINIT  TIIRM— TrN  TllODHANtl  INDI- 
ANA TAKRN  PUIMONKHH  — ADVOI'ATKM  Or  TIIK  NRW  ItKHKIIVATtON 
I'OI.ICY  —  TlIK  MiMTAIlV    DiVIHION    Off    TIIK    M  WHOUKI --  ITU    KXTRNT 

—  CoNurrioN  or  riir.  TiiiiiKa  in  tiiih  Divuion  in  IHflO. 

In  IHOO,  and,  in  t'nut,  diirinf(  tlio  wiiole  of  tlio  civil  war  in 
tho  United  States,  Iiidiun  atlairs  in  Now  Mexico  woro  unHOt- 
tied.  Miiny  of  tiio  Btruii^^otit  Imnds  l)0(;aino  tlio  allioH  of  tlio 
TexHiiH,  and  invadod  tho  Hottloments  that  woro  suppuaod  to  ho 
friendly  to  tho  Union,  without  niorcy.  PorhapH,  atnon^  tho 
trihoA  which  thus  aMBUtncd  a  himtilo  attitude,  the  Navajo  Indi- 
aiiH  woro  tho  most  troubiesomo.  Indeed,  for  more  than  ten 
yi'iirri  they  liad  defied  tho  United  States  i^ovornment,  and  now, 
iillicd  with  the  roboU,  they  wore  unusually  bold  and  dangerous. 
Tli(!ir  warriors  numbered  into  the  thousands,  and  were  consid* 
ered  as  formidable  enemies.  Soon  after  tho  War  of  tho  Kobol- 
lion  broke  out,  two  thousand  ])icked  men  were  placed  imdor 
the  command  of  Kit  Carson,  then  Coionel  of  Volunteers,  and 
ordered  to  march  against  these  hostiie  Indians.  Carson's  com- 
nmnd  performed  this  sorvieo  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner. 
Driving  tho  Indians  into  a  narrow  ravine,  and  disposing  of  liis 
forces  so  as  to  command  every  approach,  Carson  effected  tho 
snrrcndor  of  ten  thousand  Indians,  which  is  said  to  bo  tho 
largest  single  capture  of  Indians  over  known.  For  this  gallant 
Boivice  Kit  Carson  was  breveted  with  tho  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  of  Volunteers.  Soon  after,  the  captured  Indians  were 
l)lftcod  on  a  reservation  on  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the 
Arkansas  river,  and,  at  a  later  day,  under  Gen.  Sherman's 
nmuageinont,  the  same  Indians  were  removed  to  a  reservation 
in  their  own  country,  where  they  still  remain,  though  reduced 
in  numbers,  and  fallen  from  their  primitive  state. 

(509) 


610 


TROUBLE  WITH   THE   WESTERN   INDIANS! 


This  splendid  victory  over  the  savages  most  hostile  to  tlie 
people  of  New  Mexico,  put  an  end  to  the  formidable  Indian 
wars  in  that  territory,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  which  I  have 
yet  to  mention. 

But  with  the  termination  of  the  war  with  the  Sioux,  a 
change  in  the  Indian  policy  was  felt  to  be  much  needed,  both 
by  the  government  and  the  people,  as  well  as  by  the  Indians 
themselves.  Many  of  my  readers  will  remember  the  appeal 
sent  out  by  Bishop  Whipple,  of  Minnesota,  in  which  he  said: 
"  There  is  not  a  man  in  America  who  ever  gave  an  hour's  calm 
reflection  to  this  subject,  who  docs  not  know  that  our  Indian 
system  is  an  organized  system  of  robbery,  and  has  been  for 
years  a  disgrace  to  the  nation.  It  has  left  savage  men  witiiout 
governmental  control;  it  has  looked  on  unconcerned  at  every 
crime  against  the  law  of  God  and  man;  it  has  fostered  sa/age 
life  by  wasting  thousands  of  dollars  in  the  purchase  of  paint, 
beads,  scalping-knives  and  tomahawks;  it  has  fostered  a  system 
of  trade  which  robbed  the  thrifty  and  virtuous  to  pay  the 
debts  of  the  indolent  and  vicious;  it  has  squandered  the  funds 
for  civilization  and  schools;  it  has  connived  at  theft;  it  has 
winked  at  murder;  and  at  last,  after  dragging  the  savage  down 
to  a  brutishness  unknown  to  his  fathers,  it  has  brought  a  har- 
vest of  blood  to  our  own  door." 

This  appeal  met  with  a  hearty  support  in  all  parts  of  the 
United  States,  and  led  to  the  petition  from  the  Episcopal 
bishops  and  clergy  of  the  Northern  States  to  the  President,  in 
which  the  following  timely  suggestions  were  set  forth : 

"  Fi/rat — ^That  it  is  impolitic  for  our  government  to  treat  a 
heathen  community,  living  in  our  borders,  as  an  independent 
nation,  but  that  they  ought  to  be  regarded  as  our  wards. 

"  Second — ^That  it  is  dangerous  to  ourselves  and  to  them,  to 
leave  these  Indian  tribes  without  a  government,  not  subject  to 
our  laws,  and  when  every  corrupt  influence  of  the  bordci 
would  inevitably  foster  a  spirit  of  revenge  leading  to  murder 
and  war. 

^^  Third — That  the  solemn  responsibility  of  the  care  of  a 
heathen  race  requires  that  the  agents  and  servants  of  the  govern- 
ment who  have  them   in  charge,  shall  be  men  of  eminent 


OB,  TIIK   BOttDKR   WAR8  OF  TWO   CENTURIES. 


611 


iitneos,  and  in  no  case  should  such  offices  be  regarded  as  a 
reward  for  political  service. 

"  Fourth — That  every  feeling  of  honor  and  of  justice 
demands  that  the  Indian  funds  which  we  hold  for  them  as  a 
trust,  shall  be  carefully  expended  under  some  well  devised  sys- 
tem which  will  encourage  their  efforts  toward  civilization. 

"  Fifth — That  the  present  system  of  Indian  trade  is  mis- 
chievous and  demoralizing,  and  ought  to  be  so  amended  as  to 
protect  the  Indian  and  wholly  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  the 
sale  of  the  patrimony  of  the  tribe  to  satisfy  individual  debts. 

"  Sixth — That  it  is  believed  that  the  history  of  our  dealings 
with  the  Indians  has  been  marked  by  gross  acts  of  injustice 
and  robbery,  such  as  could  not  be  prevented  under  ihe  present 
system  of  management,  and  that  these  wrongs  have  often 
proved  the  prolific  cause  of  war  and  bloodshed. 

*  It  *  *  Hi  *  ii.  y^Q  fggi  that  these  results  cannot  be 
secured  without  much  careful  thought,  and,  therefore,  request 
you  to  take  such  steps  as  may  be  necessary  to  appoint  a  com- 
mission of  men  of  high  character,  who  have  no  political  ends 
to  subserve,  to  whom  may  be  referred  this  whole  question,  in 
order  that  they  may  devise  a  more  perfect  system  for  the 
administration  of  Indian  affairs,  which  shall  redress  these 
wrongs,  preserve  the  honor  of  the  government  and  call  down 
upon  us  the  blessings  of  God." 

In  these  sentiments  the  press  of  the  country,  for  the  most 
part,  heartily  concurred,  and  during  President  Grant's  first 
term  of  office,  the  commission  asked  for  in  the  foregoing  peti- 
tion, was  appointed,  but  not  until  great  evils  had  grown  out  of 
the  old  policy,  as  we  shall  see. 

We  must  now  go  back  a  few  years  and  bring  forward  the 
history  of  the  wars  between  the  United  States  and  the  Indians 
in  regular  order.  At  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion  in 
1865-6,  the  whole  territory  of  the  United  States  was  divided 
into  five  great  military  districts.  The  first  of  these  to  which 
our  attention  is  directed,  and  which  has,  for  many  years,  been 
the  center  of  border  warfares,  is  styled  the  Military  Division 
of  the  Missouri.  This  military  division  embraced,  iu  1866, 
the  vast  region  from  the  Mississippi  river  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 


612 


TKOUHLK    WITH    TMK    WKSTEItN    INDIANS: 


/ 


tains,  and  from  the  south  border  of  New  Mexico  to  the  British 
lino  on  tlie  north.  In  speaking  of  the  condition  of  this 
important  and  extensive  tract  of  territory  in  3866,  Gen.  W. T. 
Slierman  said:  "The  land  on  the  eastern  border  is  fertile  and 
well  adapted  to  settlement,  but  the  western  parts  are  a  prairie, 
with  good  grasses,  but  generally  devoid  of  trees  or  minerals, 
are  subject  to  droughts,  and  are  not  inviting  to  settlers.  Next 
in  order  are  the  mountainous  Territories  of  Montana,  Utah, 
Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  composed  of  high  plateaus  and 
mountains,  containing  minerals  of  every  kind,  with  forests  of 
timber  and  numerous  valleys  susceptible  of  high  cultivation, 
either  by  means  of  the  ordinary  rains,  or  the  more  certain  sys- 
tem of  irrigation  that  has  been  begun  within  a  comparatively 
recent  period,  and  has  been  pushed  with  an  energy  and  success 
that  promises  the  best  results.  These  new  and  mountain  ter- 
ritories present  a  most  interesting  feature  in  our  future 
development  as  a  nation,  and  are,  in  my  judgment,  worthy  the 
liberal  and  fostering  care  of  the  general  government.  Between 
these  mountain  territories  and  those  of  the  river  border  lie  the 
great  plains  of  America,  which  have  been  well  mapped  and 
described  by  the  hundreds  of  explorers  that  have  traversed 
them  from  the  time  of  the  expeditions  of  Pike,  and  Lewis  and 
Clark,  as  early  as  1803,  until  the  present  moment.  These  plains 
can  never  be  cultivated  like  Illinois,  never  be  filled  with  inhab- 
itants capable  of  self-government  and  self-defense  as  against 
Indians  and  marauders,  but  at  best  can  become  a  vast  pasture- 
field,  open  and  free  to  all  for  the  rearing  of  herds  of  horses, 
mules,  cattle  and  sheep.  The  mountain  territories  seem  to  be 
more  rapidly  improving  and  assuming  a  condition  of  self-pro- 
tection and  defense,  because  the  people  can  acquire  fixed 
habitations  and  their  property  is  generally  grouped  in  valleys 
of  some  extent,  or  in  localities  of  mines  capable  of  sustaining 
a  people  strong  enough  to  guard  themselves  against  the  preda- 
tory bands  of  nomadic  Indians.  Still,  they  occupy  at  this 
time  an  isolated  position,  presenting  a  thinly  settled  frontier 
in  every  direction,  with  a  restless  people  branching  out  in 
search  of  a  better  place,  or  of  better  mines.  To  defend  them 
perfectly  is  an  utter  impossibility,  and  all  we  can  do  is  to  aid 


Ns: 


OR,    THE    nORDKK    WARS   OF  TWO    CENTURIW. 


613 


•o  to  the  British 
ludition  of  this 
866,  Gen.  W.T. 
ier  is  fertile  and 
rts  are  a  prairie, 
ees  or  minerals, 
D  settlers.    Next 
Montana,  Utah, 
igh  plateaus  and 
1,  with  forests  of 
high  cultivation, 
more  certain  sys- 
[  a  comparatively 
lergy  and  success 
,nd  mountain  ter- 
e  in   our  future 
ment,  worthy  the 
rnment.    Between 
ver  border  lie  the 
well  mapped  and 
it  have  traversed 
ke,  and  Lewis  and 
ent.    These  plains 
filled  with  inhab- 
lefense  as  against 
.e  a  vast  pasture- 
If  herds  of  horses, 
litories  seem  to  be 
edition  of  self-pro- 
in   acquire  fixed 
Touped  in  valleys 
fable  of  sustaining 
against  the  ]>reda- 
jy  occupy  at  this 
lly  settled  frontier 
branching  out  in 
To  defend  them 
^e  can  do  is  to  aid 


the  people  in  Belf-defense,  until  in  time  they  can  take  care  of 
themselves,  and  to  make  the  roads  by  which  they  travel  or 
bring  their  stores  from  the  older  parts  of  our  country  as  safe  ai 
the  case  admits  of." 

A  review  of  the  condition  of  the  Indians  in  tliis  military 
division  in  1866,  will  afford  us  a  good  starting  point  for  an 
account  of  the  wars  that  followed.  The  wandering  and  war- 
hke  Sioux,  who  inhabited  the  country  from  Minnesota  to 
Montana,  and  down  as  far  as  the  Arkansas,  had,  for  the  pre- 
vious ten  years,  been  committing  acts  of  hostility,  that  have 
been  pronounced  as  impossible  to  foresee  or  to  prevent.  In 
like  manner,  the  Arapahoes  and  Oheyennes,  Kiowas,  Camanches 
and  Apaches,  Navajoes  and  Utahs,  though  supposed  to  have 
been  restric'-  i  to  reservations,  were,  in  1866,  unsettled,  dissat- 
isfied and  '        '  ing  to  assume  a  hostile  attitude. 

With  ti.  .pleasant  condition  of  Indian  afiPairs  in  the 
military  division  of  the  Missouri,  something  must  be  done, 
and  General  Sherman  was  called  upon  for  his  advice.  He 
proposed  to  restrict  the  Sioux  north  of  the  Platte,  west  of  the 
Missouri  river  and  east  of  the  route  to  Montana  which  leads 
from  Fort  Laramie  to  Virginia  City,  by  way  of  Forts  Ileno, 
Philip,  Kearney,  Smith,  etc.  All  Sioux  found  out  of  this 
reservation,  without  a  proper  pass  from  the  military  authori- 
ties, were  to  be  duly  punished.  He  further  proposed  to  restrict 
the  Arapahoes,  Oheyennes,  Camanches,  Kiowas,  Apaches  and 
Navajoes  south  of  the  Arkansas  and  east  of  Fort  Union. 

It  will  be  observed  that  Sherman's  policy  would  leave  to 
settlers  the  exclusive  use  of  the  wide  belt,  east  and  weet, 
between  the  Platte  and  the  Arkansas,  in  which  lie  the  two 
great  railroads,  and  over  which  at  that  time,  passed  all  the 
travel  to  the  mountain  territories.  The  Indian  wars  of  the 
previous  year  had  been  of  such  a  character  as  to  require  such 
steps  as  General  Sherman  recommended,  which  led  to  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  the  war  department  with  his  plan. 
Yet  after  all,  when  we  consider  the  causes  of  Indian  hostility 
at  this  period,  a  feeling  of  sympathy  is  awakened.  And  it  is 
"necessary  to  turn  away  from  official  reports  to  find  good 
grounds  for  this  feeling.  Gen.  Pope,  in  reporting  from  Fort 
33  * 


514 


TROUBLR    Wrril    TIIK    WPJSTKUN    INDIANS: 


Union,  New  Mexico,  in  18(16,  speaks  of  the  condition  ot  the 
Indians  in  his  department  as  follows:    "The  condition  and 
feeling  of  the  Ute  Indians  are  unsatisfactory,  not  to  say  alarm- 
ing.    In    addition    to   other  causes  of  trouble,  the  southern 
bands  of  these  Indians  are  suffering  for  food,  many  of  them, 
indeed,  are  in  a  starving  condition.     Venison  has  become  very 
scarce,  and  in  the  several  attempts  they  have  made  to  supply 
their  actual  necessities  by  hunting  buffalo  on  the  plains,  they  have 
been  beaten  in  tight  by  their  hereditary  enemies,  the  Camanches, 
Kiowas,  Cheyennes,  and  Arapahoes,  and  driven  back  to  the 
mountains.     The  Indian  department   has  refused  to  supply 
them  even  witli  the  scantiest  food,  and  it  is  neither  the  busi- 
ness of  the  military,  nor,  in  fact,  as  matters  stand,  is  it  in  their 
power  to  supply  these  deticiencies.     In  this  state  of  things, 
the  Utes  are  compelled  either  to  starve  to  death  or  supply  their 
pressing  wants  by  depredating  upon  the  herds  and  Hocks  ot 
the  nearest  settlements.     These  depredations,  although  tririing 
in  the  quantity  of  stock  taken,  occasion,  of  course,  great  dis- 
satisfaction and  uneasiness  among  the  settlers,  and  have  led  to 
various  violent  acts  which  will  very  soon  culminate  in  open 
and  extensive  hostilities,  unless  something  is  done  to  remedy 
this  deplorable  condition  of  things.    The  Indians  are  anxious 
to  be  at  peace  as  they  have  always  been,  but  they  must  kill  a 
few  cattle  and  sheep  now  and  then,  or  starve.     For  such  acts 
I  can  not  consider  them  at  war." 

Here  is  a  case,  whicli  has  hundreds  of  parallel  cases  in  the 
history  of  the  American  aborigines,  where  the  Indians,  having 
been  deprived  of  their  hunting  grounds,  brought  upon  them- 
selves an  avalanche  of  American  bayonets  for  stealing  the 
cattle  and  sheep  of  the  settlers  to  prevent  starvation.  While 
at  the  same  time  the  government  refused  to  provide  them  the 
means  of  subsistence. 


CHAPTER    LXIV. 


Indian  Troubles  in  tub  Militahy  Division  of  the  Mibsouiu   in 
1807  — The  IIokhihi.b  Massacuk  at  Port  Phil.  Kbarnbt  — Indian 

OCTBRBAKfl   IN   MONTANA  ~  OlITRAOE    AT    SmOKT    HiIJ,,    AND  AlONO 
THE     ROVTE     TO     CaIJFOUNIA  —  TlIB     PbAOB    COMMTSfllON    Poi.IOY  — 

Inactivity  of  the  Military. 

About  tlie  close  of  the  year  1866,  a  wagon  train  started 
from  Fort  Phil.  Kearney — one  of  the  outposts  established  the 
previous  year  to  protect  the  wagon  road  leading  from  the  North 
Platte  to  the  new  mining  territory  of  Montana — after  timber 
for  the  saw  mill,  and  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance,  with 
an  armed  escort,  when  tiring  was  heard,  and  the  alarm  given 
that  the  train  was  attacked  by  Indians. 

At  this  time  Col.  H.  C.  Carrington  was  commanding  at 
Fort  Kearney,  and  he  immediately  sent  out  a  detachment  of 
forty-nine  men  under  the  command  of  Capt.  W.  J.  Fetterman, 
with  orders  to  overtake  the  train,  escort  it  back  to  the  fort  in 
safety,  but  not  to  pursue  the  enemy.  Lieut.  Grummond,  with 
twenty-seven  men,  of  the  Second  cavalry,  Wh6  afterwards  dis- 
patched to  report  to  Capt.  Fetterman,  and  reiterate  the  orders 
he  had  already  received.  The  detachment  was  joined  by  Capt. 
Brown  and  two  citizens,  making,  in  all,  three  commissioned 
officers,  seventy-six  enlisted  men,  and  two  citizens.  This 
detacliment,  instesd  of  going  to  the  threatened  train,  diverged 
very  considerably  to  the  right,  crossed  Big  Piney  creek,  and 
passed  over  a  high  piece  of  ground  that  covered  them  from 
view. 

Soon  after,  sharp  firing  was  heard  from  that  direction,  which 
lasted  about  half  an  hour.  Hearing  this,  Col.  Carrington 
dispatched  Capt.  Ten  Eyck  with  a  small  detachment,  with 
orders  to  hasten  to  Fetterman's  assistance.    He  at  oace  set  out, 

(515) 


(! 


516 


Titoinii.K  wmi  TiiH  wHirrKRN  indianh: 


but  nrrivod  too  late  to  Ih)  of  anj  aorvico,  uxuopt  to  obtuin  the 
dead  and  miitilatud  bodiiw  of  t)u>  unft)rtuiiato  (lutuchinont. 
Every  man  in  Fetternian's  dutauhinont  was  uhot  down,  not  one 
<Mcapinj(  death.  In  the  diutaneo  (>apt.  Ten  Eyiik  obaorvod 
ai)out  two  thousand  Indiana  retreating  in  good  order,  llo 
oollected  the  bodieH  of  the  dead  and  etirried  thcni  back  to  tho 
fort,  whore  they  wore  properly  buried.  Tiie  wagon  train 
al8o  returned  to  the  post  in  Hafety,  and  tho  Indians  diHnppeiired. 

Subsequent  aucounts  from  tlie  Indians  indicated  tliat  they 
Lad  expected  to  draw  out  and  murder  tlie  whole  garrison,  but 
tlieir  loss  in  the  conflict  with  Capt.  Fetterman  was  such  that 
they  abandoned  any  further  eiforts.  During  the  same  winter 
a  strong  detachment  was  sent  against  these  Indians,  but  the 
weather  was  so  severe  that  the  command  was  forced  co  return 
without  accomplishing  anything.  The  Indians  who  perpe- 
trated this  bold  massacre  were  the  Sioux. 

With  the  opening  of  the  spring  of  18()7,  Indian  affairs  iu 
the  Military  Division  of  the  Missouri  assumed  an  unpleasant 
attitude.  Large  bands  of  hostile  Sioux  and  Crows  were  pour- 
ing down  upon  the  settlements  in  the  valley  ()f  the  Oallatian, 
and  the  inhabitants  were  fleeing  for  tlieir  lives.  About  the 
same  time,  the  Indians,  both  from  the  north  and  the  south, 
began  a  systematic  attack  upon  the  Platte  route,  while  along 
the  Arkansas  river  route  to  New  Mexico,  and  the  Smoky  Hill 
route  to  California,  bands  of  Cheyennes,  Kiowas,  and  Arapa- 
hoes  had  boldly  notified  the  commanding  officers  of  posts,  and 
stage-drivers,  and  agents,  that  as  soon  as  the  grass  grew  they 
would  insist  on  their  withdrawal  from  these  roads.  These 
Indians  were  also  joined  by  strong  bands  of  Ogalalla  and 
Brul6  Sioux,  and  were  pushing  preparations  for  genera)  hos- 
tilities, having  already  commenced  the  work  by  committing 
several  cold-blooded  murders. 

Gen.  Hancock,  with  a  small  detachment,  marched  against 
these  Indians  early  in  the  spring  of  1867,  and  after  dispersing 
them  burnt  the  principal  villages  of  the  Cheyennes  and  Sioux 
on  the  Pawnee  Fork.  .  But  for  the  most  part  during  the  year 
1867,  only  a  defensive  Indian  war  was  prosecuted,  in  ojder  to 
oo-operate  with  the  new  Peace  Commission  policy  which  had 


anm: 


OB,   TIFR    nORPF.R    WAR«   Of   TWO   OKNTlfRIM*. 


617 


)|)t  to  obtrtin  the 
iiato  (lutauhniont. 
hot  down,  not  one 
jn  Kyck  observed 
gootl  order,     llo 
them  back  to  the 
The  wjigon   train 
idiansdUappeared. 
idicated  that  they 
hole  garrison,  but 
I  an  was  such  that 
5  the  same  winter 
e  Indians,  but  the 
AS  forced  to  return 
ndians  wlio  perpe- 

r,  Indian  affairs  iu 

uied  an  unpleasant 

i  Crows  were  pour- 

>y  (»f  the  Gallatian, 

lives.     About  the 
rth  and  the  south, 

route,  while  along 
nd  the  Smoky  Hill 
[iowas,  and  Arapa- 
fficers  of  posts,  and 
he  grass  grew  they 

lese  roads.  These 
is  of  Ogalalla  and 

18  for  genera)  hos- 

)rk  by  committing 

marched  against 
md  after  dispersing 
leyennes  and  Sioux 
irt  during  the  year 
aecuted,  in  ojder  to 
policy  which  had 


l)cen  commenced.     Tliereforo,  an  no  decisivo  blow  was  struc  . 
against  tlie  hostile  Indians  that  year,  murders  and  massacreB 
were  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  the  settlers,  from  Montana  to 
New  Mexico,  and  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, were  wrouglit  up  to  a  state  of  exceeding  alarm.     The 
military  authorities  in  the  West,  particularly  Gen.  Sherman, 
were  exasperated  with  the  slow  and  uncertain  movements  of 
the  Commissioners,  and  with  the  constant  outbreaks  of  the 
Indians,  which,  for  the  most  part',  went  unpunished.     Even 
the  bold  band  of  hostile  Sioux  which  had  massacred  the  detach- 
ment under  Fettorman,  were  still  roaming  at  large,  committing 
new  depredations,  and  boasting  of  the  scalps  they  had  taken. 
While  at  Smoky  Hill,  and  all  along  the  road  to  California,  the 
various  bands  of  the  Cheyennes,  Kiowas  and  Arapahoes,  joined 
by  the  Ogalallas   and  Brul6  Sioux,  were  daily  committing 
depredations,  such  as  horse  stealing,  murdering  pioneer  settlers, 
and  carrying  women  and  children  into  a  barbarous  captivity. 
And  yet,  in  the  face  of  all  these  outrages,  the  military  were 
held  inactive,  being  ordered  not  to  eng'iire  and  punish  the 
Indians  unless  a  formidable  Indian  war  should  be  thr;'st  upon 
them.    Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  however  much  good  wi,s  des- 
tined to  come  out  of  the  policy  of  a  Peace  Commission,  while 
that  Board  was  deliberating  at  St.  Louis,  trying  to  solve  the 
Indian  question,  thousands  of  hostile  savages  were  invading 
the  settlements  of  the  West  from  countless  directions,  anrl 
murdering  the  defenseless  inhabitants,  with  but  a  defensive 
opposition,  which  was  incapable  of  extending  itself  to  but  few 
of  the  settlements. 


It 


OHAPTKU    LXV. 

Wars  witu  tiir  Inuiamb  in  tiik  Mimtakv  Divihion  or  tiik  Mishuuki  — 
Oi'KUA'rioNM   or  tiik    Pkach   ('OMmihhion  —  (Uiunc'ilh    with   tiik 

InDIAMH  — (k>NUIlKHM   rAII«  'VO  (/O-Ol'KHATK  — A  FoUUIDAIII.K  INDIAN 

Wah — Hkkakinu   OUT  or   Hohtii.itikh — Mijudkh,  Mahhachii:  and 

IIOItltOK— A   ()llAI>TKH   or   OUTItAOKH. 

Wk  will  uontinuu  for  the  present  to  follow  out  tlu;  militui'v 
oporatioiiH  in  tlie  division  of  thu  MisHouri,  which,  at)  I  Imve 
HlrcHdy  oliHcrved,  included  that  vast  extent  of  territory  hLtwceii 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Kocky  Mountains,  and  the  Huutlioni 
l)ouudary  of  New  Mexico,  and  the  northern  boundary  of  Mon- 
tana. At  the  time  of  whi(rh  1  write,  18(57-8,  the  divlwjun  was 
under  the  coiuinand  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Sherman,  and  was  divided 
into  three  departments,  the  Missouri,  the  Platte,  and  the 
Dakota,  commanded  respectively  by  Gen.  Sheridan,  Aiigur, 
and  Terry.  As  stated  in  a  j)reviou8  chapter  the  militarv  in 
Ci.'iB  wliole  division  had  been  instructed  to  prosecute  only  a 
defensive  war,  in  order  to  oifer  all  possible  advantages  to  the 
plans  of  the  new  Peace  Commissioners.  Indeed,  the  move- 
ments of  tlie  United  States  forces  in  this  territory  were  suhject 
to  tlie  direction  of  that  IJoard.  The  Commissioners,  after 
long  and  careful  deliberation,  had  unanimously  a<i;reud  to 
remove  all  the  Indians  in  Sherman's  division,  on  resorvii- 
tions  as  far  removed  as  possible  from  white  settlements  and 
lines  of  travel,  and  that  they  should  be  maintaiiKjd  at  the  cost 
of  the  United  States  until  they  could  partially  or  wholly  pro- 
vide for  themselves.  The  two  principal  reservations  indicated 
by  the  commission  were  north  of  the  State  (»f  Nebraska,  and 
west  of  the  Missouri  river,  and  south  of  the  State  of  Kansas 
and  west  of  the  Arkansas.  This  general  plan  was  justilied  by 
the  facts  existing  at  the  time,  and  its  wisdom  has  been 
demonstrated  by  subsequent  events. 

(518)  ,  . 


OK,   TIIK    HOKDKK    WAItN  OK   TWO  OKMTUKII'K 


619 


For  tho  piirpoHo  of  obtniniiig  the  M>tiHOiit  of  tlio  Tndinim  to 
tliiH  plan,  tlu;  ])caco  cotiitiiiKHion,  during  tliu  full  und  wint<>r  of 
1H(S7,  un<l  tho  M])ring  nnd  Hiiinnier  of  18(18,  hiM  councilH  with 
nil,  or  nourl)'  all  tho  tril  -t  cast  of  tho  Uocky  Mountaina, 
making  liberal  ]>rovi8ion  tur,  and  proBontH  to  all  w\u.  cninu  to 
tlio  apjJointcHl  places  of  council,  accor«ling  to  tho  forms  and 
corcuioniort  to  which  thoy  woro  long  accuHtoniod.  Formal 
written  treaties  wore  made  with  each  weparato  Irihe,  signed 
with  duo  formality,  und  transmitted  to  tho  United  States  for 
mtitication. 

It  is  helieved  by  many  that  tho  bloody  war  which  followed 
in  18(18  miglif  have  boon  avoided  had  tho  Congress  of  the 
United  States  promptly  co-oporated  with  the  j)eaco  commis- 
rtioti,  but  for  some  reason  this  matter  was  «)vorlookod.  Tho 
treaties  with  the  (Jhoyonncs,  Arapahoes,  Kiowas,  (amanchog, 
Navajoos,  and  Crows  were  duly  confirmed,  but  those  witli  the 
various  tribes  of  the  Sioux,  Snakes,  etc.,  were  not  acted  upon. 
Hut  tho  worst  blow  of  all  was  the  failure  of  Congress  to  take 
action  upon  the  chief  proposition  of  the  comujissioners,  viz.: 
that  which  related  to  the  sotting  apart  the  two  reservations 
ah'eady  spoken  of,  and  j)roviding  governments  therefor,  M'hich 
was  designed  to  precede  any  of  tho  treaties,  and  which  was  the 
vital  principle  of  them  all.  It  hardly  admits  of  doubt  that 
this  want  of  prompt  action  led,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the 
I'oruiidable  war  with  the  Cheyennes,  Arapahoes,  Kiowas,  and 
Canuuichos  in  1808. 

This  war  took  place  in  the  department  of  the  Missouri, 
wiiich  was  then  under  the  immediate  command  of  Gen.  Sheri- 
dan, being  a  part  of  the  military  division  of  the  Missouri, 
under  the  chief  command  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Sherman.  The 
hostilities  of  the  Indians  began  with  the  opening  of  spring, 
and  although  Gen.  Sheridan  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
peace,  the  Kiowos,  Camanches,  Arapahoes  and  Cheyennes 
continued  their  depredations  without  intermission.  Their 
prontises  were  kept  only  while  they  were  in  council.  And  it 
was  imi)0S8ible  to  place  any  reliance  upon  their  engagements. 
About  the  fourth  of  July  the  Kiowas  and  Camanches  arrived 
at  Fort  Larned,  and  demanded  rations,  making  many  threats 


520 


THOUBLK    WITH   TIIK    WK^'rll:KN    IMIIANM: 


of  whnt  they  would  <lo  hIiouM  thuy  l)o  rvt'iittcHl.  To  prnvnnt 
uii  oiitbri'uk,  Oeu.  Slivriilun  ordurcd  mtiuiiH  to  bo  IhiiikmI  to 
tliein,  wiiicli,  togtsthur  with  the  prvKvnce  ut'  u  lur^  cuvulry 
turco,  kvpt  thviii  ({uiet. 

Hoon  ut'tttr,  urdurx  weru  iMMiicd  to  dintrihiitu  tliu  ruguliir 
aiirniitioM  tu  tho  ChoyennuH,  witldiolding  KHIih,  piHtuK<,  iitul 
uiiiiniinition.  This  iiicoiiiicd  thu  hidituiH,  who  told  tho  iij^iit 
in  A  very  itiHolcnt  inniinur,  whilo  thu  teuiiiH  were  hiiuliiig  thu 
g04Kirt  to  tlit'ir  c'Hiiip,  that  he  could  haul  thuui  back  again,  hh 
they  would  have  nothing  uuIchh  they  were  given  their  tire 
arni8  and  nnnnunition.  Tho  agent  nent  for  tho  wagons  utid 
had  them  returned  to  Fort  Lirned.  Thitt  took  place  in  the 
latter  part  of  .Inly,  J8«{8. 

Karly  in  August,  a  mixed  party  of  (yheyennen,  Arapahoe* 
and  Sioux,  organized  a  war  expedition,  and  procee<le<l  from 
their  camp  on  Pawnee  creek,  to  the  Saline  valley  BettlenieiitM, 
north  of  Fort  Ilarkor.  They  were  kindly  received  by  tho 
fanncrH  living  on  the  outtikirtti  of  the  settlements,  and  given 
coffee,  etc.  After  throwing  the  coffee  into  the  tiwes  of  the 
women  serving  it  to  them,  because  it  was  given  to  them  in  tin 
cups,  they  commenced  tho  robbery  of  the  houses,  and  insultiiij^ 
the  women  in  a  brutal  manner.  After  committing  countlosH 
acts  of  crime  among  the  settlers  in  the  Saline  valley,  they 
crossed  over  to  the  settlements  on  the  Solomon,  where  they 
were  also  kindly  received  and  served  with  coffee,  but  where 
they  repeated  the  hostile  and  barbarous  acts  which  they  had 
perpetrated  in  the  former  place.  In  the  latter  town  they  mur- 
dered thirteen  men  and  two  women.  At  this  point  they 
divided,  a  small  party  passing  over  to  the  Republican,  where 
tliey  also  murdered  several  of  the  settlers.  The  larger  party 
returned  to  the  settlements  of  the  Saline,  where  they  again 
commenced  to  murder  peacefiil  settlers.  Fortunately,  however, 
Col.  Benteen,  with  his  company  of  the  seventh  cavalry,  which 
had  marched  rapidly  from  Zarah,  arrived,  routed  the  Indians 
and  ran  them  about  ten  miles. 

In  speaking  of  this  situation  in  our  Indian  history,  Lieut- 
Gen.  Sheridan,  in  his  report,  says:  ''Lieut.  Beecher,  who 
was  with  his  scouts  on  Walnut  creek,  hearing  there  was  trouble 


anh: 

wi\.    To  prcvmtt 

to  1)0  iMmuMl  ti» 

f  II  lurgo  cuvulry 

lmt»)  tho  roguUr 
[IIIIH,  piMtolit,  utid 
»o  toltl  tho  iiKt'iit 
were  liHiilint;  tliu 
in  buck  liKuiii,  iw 
«  ^iveii  tlieii'  Hie 
•  tho  wagons  und 
took  i>laco  in  tho 

ennert,  Arapiilioes 
1(1  |»roct't'«leO  from 
vuliey  Bettlenieiitrt, 
r  received  by  tho 
eujentB,  and  j<iveu 
to  the  faces  of  tiiu 
ven  to  them  in  tin 
uses,  and  insultiiiK 
iiinitting  oountU'«» 
Saline  valley,  they 

omon,  where  they 
coffee,  but  where 

ts  which  they  had 

;er  town  they  iniir- 
tins  point   they 

Republican,  where 
Tho  larger  \>i\ny 

where  they  again 
tnnately,  however, 

nth  cavalry,  which 

outed  the  Indians 

an  history,  Lieut.- 
eut.  Beecher,  who 
g  there  was  trouble 


OR,    TUN    IIOKDKK    WAKM   OV    nVO   CKNTtrKIHI. 


A2t 


on  tho  Solomon  and  Siiline,  but  without  knowing  itn  nature, 
liiHpatched  Comstock  and  (irovur  to  tho  cnmp  of  Turkey  Keg, 
on  thu  Solomon,  to  Im;  ready  to  QX[)lain,  in  ca«o  the  white  pcopio 
were  at  fault.  They  weni  onloretl  out  of  Turkey  Log  camp, 
Mid  Wi'ro  followed  by  a  party  of  seven  hulians,  professing 
friendship;  and  while  conversing  with  them  were  both  shot 
in  the  back — Conistoek  killed  instantly,  and  Grover  ba<ily 
woundo<l;  but  by  lying  on  thu  ground,  making  a  defense  of 
Coinstock*s  body,  he  kept  the  Indians  off,  and  made  his  escape 
in  the  darkness  of  the  night.  From  this  time  out,  and  almost 
hefore  information  could  be  communicated  by  the  Indian  run- 
nerH,  |M>oplo  wore  killed  an<l  seal po<l  from  the  Cimarron  river, 
tiouth  of  the  ArkauHos,  ti*  the  Republican,  and  from  tho  settle- 
ments on  the  Solomon  an<l  Sulino  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains; 
stock  run  of}',  trains  burned,  and  tlioso  accompanying  them,  in 
some  cases,  thrown  into  tho  Hamcs  and  consumed.  Tho  most 
horrible  barbarities  were  per|X5trjite<l  on  tho  dead  bodies  of 
thcrio  victims  of  savage  ferocity.  There  was  no  provocation 
on  tho  part  of  the  white  people  during  the  whole  summer, 
although  some  of  them  ha<l  to  abandon  their  ranches.  Friendly 
Ikkucs  were  made  at  the  military  posts  to  the  Indians  visiting 
them,  and  largo  issues  nuvdo  by  tho  Indian  department  of 
rations  and  goods." 

As  if  to  nuiko  matters  worse,  tho  Indian  agent,  after  order- 
ing the  wagt)ns  containing  tho  Cheyenne  annuities  back  to 
Fort  Lirned,  immediately  afterwards  distributed  them  to  these 
Indians,  with  arms  and  ammunition.  They  had  already  been 
insulted  by  the  refusal  to  their  demand  for  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion a  short  time  previous,  and,  goaded  on  by  their  principal 
medicine  man,  they  were  soon  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  most 
hostile  tribes.  Lieut.-Gen.  Sheridan,  in  closing  his  report,  in 
1868,  says:  "  I  am  of  the  belief  that  these  Indians  require  to 
be  soundly  whipped  and  the  ringleaders  in  the  present  trouble 
hung,  their  ponies  killed,  and  such  destruction  of  t;heir  prop- 
erty us  will  make  them  very  poor.  These  Indians  are  now 
rich  ill  houses,  stock  and  other  property  suitable  for  their  com- 
fort in  their  manner  of  life.  From  my  best  information,  the 
Cheyennes  and  Arapalioes  will  average  from  twenty  to  two 


AS»« 


TKol  III >;    WITH    TIIK    WKMTKKN    INDUNA: 


ItuiulrtHi  liorMim  to  u  I<mI^>  of  mIx  pcrMottM.  MoMt  of  tliiit  ntiN-k 
liUH  U'ftn  ntH'iiiiitiliittHi  ill  tlirlr  |M<rio<li('ikl  wiirM,  |{«<for«'  wuro 
\m>cuiiu>  h  nourri'  of  profit  to  tlinn,  tlicv  lin<i  to  puck  tlioirilnj^^ 
ill  inoviii^  from  place  to  pliicc  They  are  now  to  iiulcprtiilftit, 
tliut  wlu'tlitr  wchIiiiII  Imvetdir  peopU' miir<li'ri'il,  our  iiiiiilliiii>» 
AiKJ  liiiCM  of  coiiitniiiiicatioii  iiitcrriiptiMl,  (.tir  Moldici'H  living  in 
ilu^-oiitH  from  lliiys  to  |)«'iiv«>r,  iitui  from  the  tiioiitli  tt(  tin- 
liittio  ArkiuiKUH  to  INicMo,  ami  lar^c  expciiHt'  pcriodicallv 
iiu'urr(«<l  l»y  tlii»  jfovt>riiiiu'iit,  without  'iny  ft<U'<|uiitt!  chaHtlM' 
mont,  rtooiiiH  to  (U'peiitl  on  tlu'  imTc  wliim  of  the  Huva^eK." 

It  would  Im'  «lifll('ult  to  imiij;ine  the  extent  of  alarm  mi'l 
anxiety  that  wan  t'elt  hy  the  Heftlern  in  the  hroad  t'xteiit  ol' 
country  inclmled  in  the  Military  Division  of  the  MinHoiiri,  in 
18(18.  Many  exaggerated  reportn  were  on  foot,  Imt,  for  the 
iiioHt  part,  tho  thrilling  iiecountrt  horm;  on  thu  ton^iiert  «>f  run 
ner«  were  t)nly  too  true.  (Jen.  Sheridan'H  headtpiartern  at  I'ort 
llayH  wag  eoiiBtuntly  besiejftsd  with  Htartliiif^  report*,  hiicIi  u- 
thuHe: 

On  the  twenty. fifth  (»f  Aii^UHt,  Acting  Governor  Hall.  i»t' 
('olorado,  reported  by  telej^raph  that  over  two  hundred  IndiuiiH 
were  dcvastatinjif  Southern  (Jolorado.  On  the  Hume  day,  tlio 
Haino  person  tele<rra{)hed  to  Gen.  Sheridan  iih  follows:  "Tlii' 
ArapahooH  are  killin<f  HottlorB,  dentroyin^  ranehen  in  all  din'i'- 
tions.  For  (Jod'H  nake  give*  me  authority  to  take  Holdierh  IVkiii 
Fort  Reynoldrt.  'I'he  people;  are  arming  and  will  imf  t» 
reHtruincd,"  A  few  hours  later  and  the  riame  gentleiimn 
reported  that  he  was  surrounded  by  hostile  Indians.  Stii^'tv 
were  stopped,  stock  was  being  taken,  and  the  people  wort' 
organizing  volunteer  c<)in[)anic8  to  nvenge  the  atrocities  com- 
mitted. 

But  these  were  not  all;  for  not  an  hour  ])afcsed  which  di'i 
not  bring  the  news  of  some  new  disaster.  Ix't  usglmiccat  tlu' 
uutlientie  reports  as  they  came  to  Gen.  Sheridan's  headqimr- 
ters  at  Fort  Hays,  between  the  twenty-eighth  of  August  ami 
tiie  twenty-first  of  October,  18C8.*  Mr.  Powers  (wood  mid  Im.v 
contractor)  and  party,  were  attacked  by  a  bo«ly  of  Indiaiip. 
three  of  tlieir  number  being  killed,  and  all  tlieir  stock  driven  otl. 

*  Gen.  Sheridan's  Hoport,  1808. 


riiAyR: 


OR,  tllR   t«>KI>KK    WAKH  nf  TWO  rKNTitKI)]!. 


0SB 


MoHl  «»f  thin  Ht<M  k 

*iirK.      Mt't'orr  warn 

to  piu'k  tlit'ir  liners 

OW  i^O  illlll'|M>l|i|t>llt, 

chmI,  (»ur  iniiil  lim- 
ir  Holilici'n  liviii).'  ill 

t\w  inoutli  of  tilt' 
i|H'nHt'    ]M'rio<liciillv 

n<l(>(|iiiiti!  cliiiHtiM*'- 
)t'  tin)  Huviij^cM." 
xUMit  ot*  aliirm  aii-l 
ln«  l»rt<ii(l  extent  of 
of  the  MiHrtoiiri.  in 
»  foot,  l»ut,  for  tlif 
tlio  tonj(iieM  of  run 
leudcjuiirterrt  at  Fort 
iiig  report*,  uucii  u- 

Governor  Hall,  of 

wo  hundred  Itidiiiii« 

\  the  name  day.  tin- 

1  art    folloWrH      "Tlif 

raneliert  in  all  din'C- 

)  take  Holdierh  iVoiii 

^  and    will    not   U' 

le    riaiiic  gentleumii 

le  Indians.     Stii^'i> 

id  tlie   people  were 

the  atroeities  coin- 

ur  passed  which  di'l 
lift  lis  f^lann'  at  tlu' 

>heridanV  heathpmr- 

^rhth  of  Auj^iist  and 
)wertt(,wood  and  hay 
a  body  of  Indiana 

heir  wtock  driven  off. 


Mr.  Stiekiiey,  Htiitjtiii  kee|H<r  lit  Kiuwu  Spriti^M,  truveiin^ 
with  our  mull  in  a  wh^mi,  ahoiif  dark,  wuh  uttueked  hy  tlfteeii 
or  twenty  Indiana,  ;ind  the  wu^on  And  live  niuh<H  ca|>tiiri>d. 
Mr.  Stiekney  waM  wounded.  The  inideH  were  wihl  and  ran 
away.     Ni^ht  eornin^  on  they  nia(h>  their  erieupe. 

Thi'  Mer^^eant  at  Lake  Htatiun  n-portn  two  einploy«'eH  driv»'n 
in,  and  aUo  Htution  ket{M>r  and  ntoek  tender  at  Keeil'n  Spring 
driven  oti'  from  atution,  and  forty  head  of  Mti)ek  run  ot)'  from 
Kiowa  Htution. 

(Jen.  I'enrone,  eomnnindin^  Fort  Lyon,  reportM  on  the  twenty- 
tliitd,  at  midthiy,  a  hand  of  CheyentieH  at  Kent*!)  Fort,  tw(>nty 
inileM  distant  from  Fort  Lyon,  drove  oti'  tlftei>n  head  of  horneH 
and  niiden  and  four  heiid  of  heef  eatth<.  On  the  tweiity-fourth 
Iiidianrt  charted  the  rtta;i^e  from  the  eaHt  hack.  He  aUo  Htatort 
from  reportrt,  that  the  Denver  i^Ui'^v  lint*,  thtt  timtiky  Hill,  and 
between  Fortrt  Lyoit  and  Dod^e,  are  overrun  l)y  hoHtile  IndiauH. 
On  the  twenty-Heeond  of  AngUKt  a  train  of  thirteen  wagonu, 
Itelon^in^  to  S«Mior  Don  Uamire/,  waM  attacked  by  Heventy-tivo 
or  one  hundred  IndiaiiH,  eighteen  milurt  from  thu  ArkauHUH 
river,  thu  oxen  killed  and  the  train  destroyed,  the  men  in 
oliar<^»',  twt.'lvu  in  numbur,  utteaping  to  Fort  Lyon  in  the  dark- 
lU'MK  of  ni^ht. 

Lieut.  T.  A.  liiley,  fifth  infantry,  reports  tliat  Indiana  ran 
oW  two  hundred  horses  belonging  to  tho  KansaH  Stage  Com- 
|)!i  .y  and  the  I'nited  Status  Express  Company,  and  that  the 
staj^e  liiu>  is  interruptetl. 

J.  H.  .loiujs,  agtnit  of  stage  lino,  reports  one  wonum  and  a 
child  killed  and  scalped,  and  thirty  head  of  stock  run  oil  hy  a 
body  of  Indians  west  of  Lake  station. 

A  wagon  guarded  by  four  men  of  the  seventh  cavalry  was 
attacked  by  a  large  body  of  Indians  near  Little  Coon  creek. 
Three  of  tlio  men  were  badly  wounded.  One  of  their  number 
bravely  volunteered  to  go  to  Fort  Dodge  for  aid,  giving  his 
arms  to  his  comrades,  saying,  "  Here,  boys,  you  want  them 
uioro  than  1  do."  They  were  tinally  relieved  by  a  party  from 
Fort  Dodge  under  Lieut.  Wallace,  of  tho  third  infantry. 

Brevet  Lieut.-Col.  J.  G.  Tilford,  conmuiiiding  Fort  Reynolds, 
reports  four  persons  killeil  near  Colorado  City.    He  is  in  great 


624 


TKOUBLR   WITH   TIIE   WKffTKKN    INDIANS: 


need  of  cavalry  to  pursue  hostile  IndiauB.  A  large  body  of 
Indians  attacked  the  station  at  Hugo  Springs,  firing  on  the 
guards  and  circling  round,  but  were  repulsed. 

A  body  of  Indians  drove  off  five  head  of  stock  from  the 
station  at  Hugo  Springs,  and  then  went  off  and  burned  Willow 
Springs.  The  commanding  officer  of  Fort  Reynolds  urges,  in 
consequence  of  Indian  depredations  and  outrages,  that  the 
troops,  and  especially  the  cavalry  at  that  post,  be  not  reduced. 
The  settlers  are  clamorous  and  excited,  and  ask  for  arms  and 
ammunition,  but  ho  has  none  to  give  them.  He  believes  that 
if  the  troops  were  withdrawn  the  settlements  would  be 
devastated. 

The  Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax  telegraphs  from  Denver:  "  Hostile 
Indiana  have  been  striking  simultaneously  at  isolated  settle- 
ments of  Colorado  for  a  circuit  of  over  two  hundred  miles. 
Men,  women,  and  children  have  been  killed  and  scalped  daily, 
and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  of  property  stolen. 
These  atrocities  have  been  mainly  near  the  three  great  lines 
of  travel  from  this  focal  point.  ^  *  *  The  Territory  has 
no  means  to  put  volunteers  in  the  field,  and  is  literally  defense- 
less," and  suggests  that  a  strong  cavalry  force  be  sent  there, 
and  that  a  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition  be  sent  the  terri- 
torial  authorities. 

Col.  H.  C.  Bankhead,  commanding  Fort  Wallace,  reports  that 
a  body  of  Indians,  twenty-five  in  number,  killed  and  scalped 
two  citizens  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Sheridan.  Tlie  same 
party  drove  off  between  seventy  and  eighty  head  of  mules  from 
Clark  &  Co.'s  train  at  the  hay  carnp  on  Turkey  creek. 

Maj.  Douglas  forwards  the  report  of  Lieut.  D.  W.  Walling- 
ford,  seventh  cavalry,  sent  out  to  assist  a  wood  train  of  thirty- 
five  wagons,  said  to  be  attacked  at  Cimarron  crossing,  twenty- 
eight  miles  west,  and  fifty  men  with  it.  He  had  been  fighting 
Indians  for  four  days;  had  two  men  and  two  horses  killed,  and 
seventy -five  head  of  cattle  run  off,  and  a  great  many  mules 
wounded.  Five  and  a  half  miles  further  west  the  remains  of 
a  train  of  ten.  wagons  that  had  been  captured  and  burned  were 
found.  Nothing  but  the  iron  work  remained.  There  were 
fifteen  persons  with  it,  supposed  to  have  been  killed,  and  their 


[AMS: 


OR,   TUB    BORDKR   WARS   OF   TWO   OKNTUEIES. 


625 


A  large  body  of 
jgs,  firing  on  the 
(1. 

)t'  stock  from  the 
,nd  burned  Willow 
Reynolds  urges,  in 
outrages,  that  the 
Bt,  be  not  reduced. 

ask  for  arms  and 

He  believes  that 

ements   would   be 

I  Denver:  "  Hostile 
y  at  isolated  settle- 
(vo  hundred  inilea. 
I  and  scalped  daily, 
f  property  stolen. 
le  three  great  lines 
The  Territory  has 
is  literally  defense- 
force  be  sent  there, 
[I  be  sent  the  terri- 

'allace,  reports  that 
killed  and  scalped 
beridan.    Tlie  same 
lead  of  mules  from 
cey  creek. 
It.  D.  W.  Walling- 
ood  train  of  thirty- 
u  crossing,  twenty- 
Q  had  been  fighting 
o  horses  killed,  and 
great  many  mules 
'■est  the  remains  of 
id  and  burned  were 
lined.    There  were 
en  killed,  and  their 


bodies  burnod  with  the  train,  as  the  peculiar  stench  and  large 
quantity  of  bones  found  among  the  debris  indicated. 

Mr.  C.  W.  M.  Ruggles,  of  Sheridan,  reports  that  the  Indians 
burned  a  ranch  and  killed  its  occupants  six  miles  from  Sheri- 
dan, on  the  road  to  Wallace.  The  same  ranch  was  also  burned 
two  weeks  before  and  had  been  rebuilt. 

Gen.  Penrose  reports  two  men  killed  and  one  wounded  of  L 
troo]),  seventh  cavalry,  in  a  fight  with  hostile  Indians. 

Capt.  Butler,  commanding  Fort  Wallace,  reports  the  stage 
fired  into  by  Indians  four  miles  east  of  Lake  station.  On  the 
first  of  September  three  men  were  killed  by  a  band  of  Indians 
four  miles  east  of  Reed's  Spring  station. 

Clark  &  Co.,  hay  contractors,  telegraph  that  they  have  lost 
eighty-one  head  of  stock,  and  will  have  to  give  up  contract 
unless  protected. 

Gen.  Nichols,  traveling  to  Fort  Reynolds,  was  attacked  by 
Indians,  but  they  drew  off  when  they  saw  the  arms  of  the 
guard.  They  then  ran  off  the  stock  of  Thompson  and  McGee, 
(i})})osito  Bent's  Old  Fort,  then  made  a  raid  on  a  house  at  Point 
of  Kocks,  and  ran  off  four  head  of  stock. 

Ellis  station  was  burned  and  one  citizen  killed.  Gen.  Sully 
reports  two  killed  and  one  wounded  of  his  command. 

Col.  Bankhead  reports  that  a  body  of  fifteen  Indians  fired 
into  the  Mexican  ranch,  four  miles  east  of  Big  Timbers  station. 

Acting  Governor  Hall,  of  Colorado,  telegraphs  :  "  Indians 
more  numerous  and  bold  than  ever  before.  It  is  impossible  to 
protect  the  families  and  property  of  the  people  and  fight  them 
at  the  same  time.  We  now  find  ourselves  helpless,  exposed 
daily  to  assaults,  accompanied  by  horrid  butcheries." 

Gen.  Hazen  reports  attack  on  Fort  Zarali  by  about  one 
hundred  Indians,  who  were  driven  off.  They  then  attacked  a 
provision  train,  killed  one  teamster  and  secured  the  mules  from 
four  teams;  then  attacked  the  ranch  eight  miles  below,  and 
drove  away  all  the  stock. 

Gen.  Sully  reports  attack  by  Indians  on  a  train  between 
Lamed  and  Dodge.  Three  citizens  were  killed  and  three 
wounded,  and  over  fifty  mules  run  o&.  / 

Maj.  Douglas   reports  :     "  On  Thursday  Indians  appeared 


iii  ■'  '-f 


w 


596 


TROUBLK   Wmi   TIIR   WKSTKRN    INHIANfl: 


under  cover  of  a  tliick  fog,  wounded  a  Mexican  at  Lime  Kiln, 
three  miles  off;  then  attacked  a  train  about  ten  miles  down  the 
road,  killed  two  men  and  wounded  two;  destroyed  stores  ami 
ran  off  stock." 

Gen.  Penrose  reports  three  hundred  Indians  on  Purgatory, 
on  the  seventh  instant.  They  killed  one  Mexican  and  ran  otf  a 
quantity  of  stock. 

Brevet-Maj.  E.  A.  Belger  reports  a  party  of  Indians  nearElls- 
wortli  City.     They  killed  one  man  and  Koveral  are  misBlng. 

Lieut.  Kaiser,  third  infantry,  reports  that  a  party  of  Indians 
surrounded  and  drove  off  six  horses  and  two  mules  from  citi- 
zens near  Zarah. 

Gen.  Penrose  reports  a  train  attacked  by  Indians  at  Sand 
creek,  who  ran  off  the  cattle  and  captured  Mrs.  Blinn  and  her 
chijd.    These  Indians  were  led  by  Satan ta,  chief  of  the  Kiowas. 

Col.  Koyall  reports  attack  by  Indians  on  his  camp  on  Prairie 
Dog  creek,  killing  one  man,  wounding  one,  and  running  off 
twenty-six  horses. 

Col.  Bankhead  reports  Col.  Carpenter's  command  of  tenth 
cavalry  attacked  by  four  hundred  Indians  on  Beaver  creek. 
Three  men  wounded  and  two  horses  killed. 


CHAPTER     LXVI. 
WiNTEii  Cami'aion  ok  Lieut. -Gkn.  HnBRiDAN  IN  1868  — A  Brilliaut 

TUIUMPII    OVER    THE    INDIANS    EaST    OF    TUB     RoCKY     MOUNTAINS  — 
SlIllIlENUER   OF   TUE    TuiUEH  —  TlIEY    ARE    PLACED  ON  THE  ReSERYA. 

T10N8  — TiiK  Way  Opened  for  the  Labors  of  the  Peace  Com- 
mission. 


To  MEET  this  hostile  force  of  Indians  that  was  now  sweeping 
all  before  them,  Gen.  Sheridan  had  bnt  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred cavalry,  and  about  one  thousand  four  hundred  infantry, 
and  this  force  was  distributed  throughout  New  Mexico,  Indian 
Territory,  Kansas,  Upper  Arkansas  and  the  State  of  Missouri 
as  garrisons  to  the  different  military  posts.  "  With  this  small 
force,"  says  Gen.  Sheridan,  "  for  offensive  operations,  it  was 
impossible  to  accomplish  a  great  deal  in  so  extensive  a  country. 
The  Indian,  mounted  on  his  hardy  pony,  and  familiar  with 
the  country,  was  about  as  hard  to  find,  so  long  as  the  grass 
lasted,  as  the  Alabama  on  the  ocean." 

With  the  accession  to  the  ranks  of  the  hostile  Indians  of 
the  Kiowas  and  Camanches,  the  Indian  forces  opposed  to  Gen. 
Sheridan's  command  amounted  to  six  thousand  warriors.  This 
force  being  altogether  too  strong  to  be  operated  against  suc- 
cessfully with  Sheridan's  little  army,  he  called  upon  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Kansas  for  a  regiment  of  one  thousand  two  hundred 
cavalry,  which  was  promptly  responded  to. 

Gen  Sheridan,  who  had  now  assumed  the  duties  of  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Missouri,  in 
place  of  Gen.  Sherman,  made  preparations  in  the  fall  of  1868 
for  a  winter  campaign.  This  was  a  bold  undertaking,  but 
through  great  effort  proved  abundantly  successful  and  resulted 
in  subduing  the  most  important  Indian  tribes.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  judge  of  the  fruits  of  the  peace  commission  had 

(527) 


£28 


TKOUULE   WITH   THE   Wl-STKHN    INDIANS: 


this  cam])ai^n  not  bocii  iimdo.     All  nttuin])tH  at  ejecting  a 
peace  must  have  been  futile. 

In  Bpeakingof  the  condition  of  atfairn  winch  led  to  his 
great  winter  campaign  Lieut. -Gen.  Sheridan  mya: 

''The  Indians,  commencing  about  the  tenth  of  August,  had 
distributed  themselves  in  small  ])arties  along  the  western  line 
of  the  settlements  in  Kansas,  and  the  eastern  Une  of  settle- 
inentB  in  Colorado,  and  the  lines  of  travel  up  Smoky  liill 
river  to  Denver,  and  on  the  Arkansas  river  and  Santa  F^ 
roads,  driving  in  the  settlers,  stopping  all  commercial  traffic, 
murdering  many  defenseless  persons  in  the  most  brutal  man- 
ner, and  escaping  from  the  troops  sent  against  them  by  travel- 
ing at  night,  or  by  the  swiftness  of  their  hardy  grass-ted 
ponies.  This  kind  of  work  they  expected  to  keep  until  the 
a})proach  of  winter,  when  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  would 
give  them  ample  security,  and  they  could  live  on  their 
})lunder,  glory  in  the  scalps  taken  and  the  debasement  of  tlie 
poor  unfortunate  women  whom  they  held  as  prisoners. 

"  The  experience  of  many  years  of  this  character  of  Indian 
depredations,  with  security  to  themselves  and  families  in  the 
winter,  had  made  them  very  conlident  and  bold;  especially 
was  this  true  of  the  previous  summer  and  winter.  So  boldly 
had  this  system  of  murder  and  robbery  been  carried  on,  that 
not  less  than  eight  hundred  people  had  been  murdered  since 
June,  1802  —  men,  women  and  children.  To  disabuse  the 
minds  of  the  savages  of  this  confident  security,  and  to  strike 
them  at  a  period  at  which  they  were  the  most  if  not  entirely 
helpless,  became  a  necessity,  and  the  general-in-chief  then  in 
command  of  this  division  authorized  a  winter  campaign,  und 
at  or  about  the  same  time  directed  that  the  reservation  set 
apart  for  the  Kiowas  and  Camanches  at  the  "Witchita  Moun- 
tains should  be  considered  k  place  of  refuge,  where,  if  the 
savages  would  go  and  submit,  they  would  be  exempt  from  the 
operations  of  the  troops.  The  authority  for  this  winter  cam- 
paign was  received  October  9,  1868.  At  this  time  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Indians  had  been  mostly  transferred  to  the  line 
of  the  Arkansas  river  and  Santa  Y6  road,  owing  to  the  o])era- 
tions  of  troops  under  Col.  Forsyth,  Gen.  Bradley,  and  Gen. 


IIANS: 

ptH  at  effecting  a 

wliich   led  to  his 
I  says: 

ith  of  AuguBt,  had 
ig  the  wentern  line 
tern  Uno  of  Hettle- 
el  up  Smoky  Hill 
ver  and  Santa  F6 
conunercial  traffic, 
e  most  hrutal  nuvu- 
TiBt  them  by  travel- 
>ir  hardy  grass-fed 
I  to  keep  nntil  the 
f  the  weather  would 
uld    live    on    their 
debasement  of  the 
18  prisoners, 
character  of  Indian 
and  "families  in  the 
,nd  bold;  e8j)ecially 
winter.     So  boldly 
;en  carried  on,  that 
len  murdered  Bince 
To   disabuse  the 
;;urity,  and  to  strike 
most  if  not  entirely 
ral-in-chief  then  in 
inter  campaign,  and 
the  reservation  set 
the  Witchita  Moun- 
ifuge,  where,  if  the 
be  exempt  from  the 
for  this  winter  cam- 
this  time  the  opera- 
ansferred  to  the  line 
owing  to  the  opera- 
Bradley,  and  Gen. 


OR,   THK  BORDKR  WARS   OP   TWO   CENTURIi<:fl. 


599 


Carr,  north  of  the  Smoky  Hill  river  and  on  tlie  Kepublican, 
as  well  as  to  the  near  approach  of  winter,  which  caused  the 
Buvages  to  work  in  the  direction  of  their  families,  tlien  sup- 
posed to  be  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Ked  river,  immediately 
Kuiith  of  the  Antelope  Hills." 

Preparations  were  made  and  Sheridan's  forces  concentrated 
at  (Jamp  Supply.  From  tliis  point  it  was  expected  that  tlie 
main  column  would  strike  the  Indians  either  on  tlie  head- 
waters of  the  Wasliita  or  still  further  south,  on  the  Sweet 
Water  and  otlier  brandies  of  the  Red  river.  Gen.  Sheridan 
arrived  at  Camp  Supply  on  the  twenty-first  of  November, 
where  he  found  the  troops  under  Gen.  Sully  engaged  in  the 
construction  of  a  block-liouse,  wells,  and  store-house,  for  the 
protection  of  the  supplies.  In  si)eaking  of  the  progress  of 
Lis  campaign  from  this  point,  Lieut.-Gen.  Sheridan  says: 

"  A  furious  snow  storm  commenced  on  the  same  evening, 
which  continued  during  the  night  and  next  day,  making  the 
situation  very  gloomy,  especially  on  account  of  the  non-arrival 
of  the  Nineteenth  Kansas,  which  I  had  expected  would  have 
reached  Camp  Supply  about  the  same  time  as  myself.  This 
was  a  great  disappointment  to  me,  as  I  had  expected  to  unite 
this  regiment  with  the  Seventh  Cavalry  and  launfh  them  both 
on  the  Indians,  whom  I  still  supposed  to  be  just  south  of  the 
Ante]  pe  Hills.  This  disappointment  was  further  increased 
by  the  appearance  of  Indians  on  the  distant  hills  as  I  came 
down,  just  north  of  Bluff  Creek,  and  the  discovery  of  a  large 
fresh  trail  by  Sully's  command  —  traveling  due  north;  and  I 
thought  the  discovery  of  the  troops  would  cause  the  Indians 
south  of  Antelope  Hills  to  take  to  flight.  I  therefore,  on  the 
second  day  after  my  arrival  at  Camp  Supply,  directed  Gen. 
Custer  to  move  his  regiment,  storm  or  no  storm,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  twenty-third  of  November.  This  order  was 
responded  to  with  alacrity  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Sev- 
enth Cavalry,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third  the 
regiment  moved  at  daylight,  although  the  snow  continued  to 
fall  with  unabated  fury. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  twenty-sixth,  Gen.  Custer  struck 
the  trail  of  the  war  party  before  alluded  to  as  having  passed 
34 


In 


b'M 


TKoriU.K   WITH    TIIK   WKHTICKN    INDIANH: 


ft 


north,  and  whidi  liiul  been  soon  by  Sully's  comrnand,  and  mmo 
ot'  the  Maine  party  luwl  been  seen  by  my  escort,  near  HIiiU' 
Creek.  This  war  [tarty  wan  eoinposed,  i\n  I  afterward  learned 
from  Indiaiid,  of  lUack  Kettle's  bund  of  CI  icy  en  nen;  also  ((tlur 
Clieyeniu's  and  Arapahoes.  They  had  lu-en  north,  kill«'»l  tlio 
mail  eaii'iv  1-8  between  Dodge  and  iiiirned,  an  old  hunter  at 
Dixlge,  mid  l,wo  of  my  expressmen,  whom  I  iuul  sent  back 
with  letters  from  Blutf  Creek  to  Dodge.  As  soon  as  (yuster 
struck  the  trail  ho  C(»rraled  his  wagons,  left  a  small  escort  with 
them,  and  followed  the  Indian  trail,  which  was  very  fresh  and 
well  marked  in  the  deep  snow,  until  it  led  into  Black  Kettle's 
village.  The  next  morning,  before  daylight,  the  Osage  Indian 
trailers  discovered  the  village  and  stock  of  the  Indians,  and 
notilied  Custer,  who  at  once  made  the  most  admirable  disposi- 
tion of  his  command  for  the  attack  and  capture  of  the  village. 
At  dawn  the  attack  was  made,  the  village  captured  and  burncti, 
eight  hundred  horses  or  ponies  killed  in  accordance  with  my 
positive  orders,  and  one  hundred  and  three  warriors  killed, 
and  fifty-three  women  aiul  children  captured. 

"  While  this  work  was  going  on,  all  the  Indians,  for  a  dis- 
tance of  Hfteen  miles  down  the  Washita,  collected  and  attacked 
Custer.  These  Indians  were  Cheyennes,  Camanches,  Kiowas, 
and  Apaches;  but  were  driven  down  the  stream  for  a  distance 
of  four  or  iive  miles,  when,  as  night  was  approaching,  Custer 
withdrew  and  returned  to  a  small  train  of  provisions  which  he 
had  directed  to  follow  up  his  movements.  Our  loss  at  tlie 
attack  on  the  village  was  Capt.  Louis  M.  Hamilton,  and  three 
men  killed,  and  three  officers  and  eleven  men  wounded;  but, 
unfortunately.  Major  Elliott,  of  the  regiment,  a  very  gallant 
and  promising  young  officer,  seeing  some  of  the  young  boys 
escape,  followed,  with  the  sergeant-major  and  fifteen  men,  to 
capture  and  bring  them  in;  after  capturing  them,  and  while 
on  their  way  back  to  the  regiment,  they  were  surrounded  and 
killed.  It  occurred,  I  think,  in  this  way:  Elliott  and  his 
party  followed  the  boys  shortly  after  the  attack  on  the  village, 
taking  a  course  due  south  and  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the 
Washita  river,  which  was  here  very  small ;  after  traveling 
south  one  mile  and  a  half  from  the  village,  a  very  small  branch 


^ 


icort,  neiir  HlutV 
it'tervvnnl  U'linutl 
onnen;  also  (»thir 

north,  kill«'*l  tho 
an  old  hunter  at 

I  luul  tit'ut  hiu'k 
^B  Boou  ii«  Custer 
I  HUiaUcBct.rtwilh 
^vas  very  tVesh  and 
nto  Black  Kettle's 
,  tho  Ot^aj^o  In<liiu\ 
,t'  tho  Indian?,  and 

rtdmirahle  disposi- 
,tnro  of  the  village. 
ptm-ed  and  hurncd, 
lecordance  with  my 
ree  warriors  killed, 

pd. 

e  Indians,  for  a  dis- 
Uected  and  attacked 
Janianchcs,  Kiow.v, 
[tream  for  a  distance 
.ipproaching,  Cu*^ter 
Iprovisions  which  he 
>,.    Our  loss  at  tlie 
laniilton,  and  three 
men  wounded;  hut, 
[lent,  a  very  grtlla"^ 
,  of  the  young  boys 
and  fifteen  men,  to 
ling  them,  and  while 
Ivere  surrounded  and 
^y:    Elliott  and  \m 
attack  on  the  village, 
,  right  angles  to  the 
,all ;   after  traveling 
,,  a  very  small  branch 


OK,    TIIK    nORDKK    WAKH   t>h'   TWO   rKNTCKIKK. 


081 


of  tho  Warthita  wart  croHKod,  and  an  open  prairio  rraclud;  on 
thirt  prairio  tho  hoyrt  wore  captured  and  wore  hiMiig  brought 
ba<!k,  when  tho  party  waa  attaek«'<l  by  Indianrt  from  IH3I0W, 
numbering  from  ono  thouHund  to  Hfteon  hundrtxl;  it  fought 
its  way  back  toward  tho  Hmall  creek  before  named  until  within 
ririo  range  of  tho  creok,  when  it  was  stopped  by  tho  Tudiana 
having  taken  position  in  tho  bod  of  tho  creek,  ami  picking  off 
the  men,  who  had  formed  a  little  circle,  around  which  their 
dead  and  horribly  mutilated  bodies  wore  foimd.  No  one,  so 
far  as  I  could  learn,  of  those  back  with  the  regiment,  knew  of 
their  having  followed  the  Indian  boys;  no  ono  heard  the  report 
of  their  guns,  and  no  ono  knew  of  their  exact  fate  until  they 
wore  discovered,  some  two  weeks  afterward." 

On  tho  thirtoentli  of  N'ovomber,  tho  Nineteenth  Kansas 
arrived  at  Camp  Supply,  after  a  lorig  and  tedious  journey  in 
which  tho  regiment  lost  its  way,  being  thereby  delayed.  The 
blow  that  Custer  had  struck  was  a  hard  ono  and  fell  on  the 
guiltiest  of  all  tho  bands  —  that  of  Black  Kettle.  It  was  this 
band,  says  Gen.  Sheridan,  that,  without  provocation,  had  mas- 
sacred the  settlors  on  the  Saline  and  Solomon,  and  perpetrated 
cruelties  too  fiendish  for  recital. 

But  Gen.  Sheridan  was  not  satisfied  with  this  victory,  but 
continued  the  pursuit  of  the  Indians  until  every  hostile  band 
in  his  division  surrendered  themselves.     In  this  work  Gen. 
Sheridan  and  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  him  rendered  theii 
country  a  service   which   wo  cannot  commend   too  highly. 
During  tho  summer  preceding  his  campaign,  while  the  peace 
commission  was  deliberating  as  to  the  best  means  of  civiliz- 
ing and  christianizing  the  Cheyennes,  Oamanches,  Kiowas, 
Apaches,  Arapahoes  and  Sioux,  these  Indians  were  committing 
merciless  depredations  upon  the  settlements  between  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  the  Rocky  Mountains  with  the  full  hope  that  the 
severity  of  winter  would  protect  them  from  just  punishment; 
but,  as  we  have  seen,  they  were  disappointed  in  this  hope. 
Many  of  their  warriors  paid  the  penalty  of  their  crimes  by 
their  lives  upon  the  battle-field,  while  the  others  were  forced 
to  submission  and  compelled  to  retire  to  their  reservations. 
Thus,  through  the  courage  and  foresight  of  Gen.  Sheridan  the 


689 


TKOIIBI.K  WITH    TUB   WRVnCKM    INDIANS: 


Indians  wuro  thoroughly  oonquorod  and  tho  way  oponed  for 
that  long,  and,  in  many  respects,  prosperous  peace  which  has 
followed.  The  Indians  oast  of  the  liooky  Mountains  have 
given  tho  government  but  little  trouble  since  this  campaign,  the 
Western  settlements  Itave  been  ])rotectod  from  a  barbarous 
invasion,  women  and  children  have  been  shielded  from  a  iiend- 
imh  captivity,  and  the  Indians  theniHelves  have  fared  much 
liettcr  than  when  dependent  upon  depredations  for  the  means 
of  subsistence.  For  this  brilliant  service  Liout.-Oen.  P.  II. 
Sheridan  has  his  reward  in  the  respect  and  esteem  in  which 
ho  is  hold  by  the  whole  people  of  the  United  States. 


CHAPTER    LXVII. 


Indian  THouBiiEs  Wmt  or  rnn  Uooky  Mountainb  — Hohhiblii  Mas- 
HACKBOF  Indians— DirpiouLTiEi  or  Making  War  on  tuuSavaOks 
IN  TUB  Wilds  oir  tub  West— Tub  Pbaob  Commission khb  in  Ari- 
zona AMD  CAi^iroRMiA  — Curious  Spbkcubs  or  CiiiBrs. 

Let  ub  now  turn  our  attention  to  tho  wars  witli  the  Indians 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  more  particularly  in  Ari- 
zona.    Mere,  too,  we  find  the  good  reeulta  of  the  labors  of  the 
Peace  ComniisBioners,  but  not  without  being  preceded  by  the 
evils  consequent  upon  a  change  in  the  Indian  policy.     Perhaps 
the  new  pence  policy  met  with  more  opposition  among  the 
white  settlers  west  of  tlio  Rocky  Mountains  than  in  Sheridan's 
military  division,  east  of  them.     In  the  former  country  the 
pioneers  of  civilization  who  had  suffered  all  manner  of  hard- 
Bhips  and  cruelties  at  the  hands  of  the  savages,  seemed  to  look 
upon  them  with  p       jling  of  revenge.      Tliis  revenge  often 
found  vent  in  open  hostilities,  and  sometimes  in  massacres  that, 
for  cruelty,  equalled  the  deeds  of  the  Indians  themselves.     In 
1871  a  number  of  Apaches  were  murdered  on  their  reservation 
in  Arizona,  by  whites,  there  being  no  cause  for  the  outrage 
beyond  past  liostilities.     Lieut.  R.  E.  Whiteman,  of  the  United 
States  army,  and  commander  at  the  post  near  which  the  mas- 
Bacre  took  place,  gives  a  very  good  account  of  the  affair  in  his 
report:    "  Many  of  the  men  whose  families  had  all  been  killed, 
when  I  spoke  to  them  and  expressed  sympathy  for  them,  were 
obliged  to  turn  away,  unable  to  speak,  and  too  proud  to  show 
their  grief.    The  women  whose  (jhildren  had  been  killed  or 
Btolen  were  convulsed  with  grief,  and  looked  to  me  appealingly, 
as  tiiough  I  was  their  last  hope  on  earth.     Children  who,  two 
dajB  before,  had  been  full  of  fun  and  frolic,  kept  at  a  distance, 
expressing  wondering  horror.     I  did  what  I  could ;  I  fed  them, 

(533) 


584 


TKOtmi.K    WITH    TIIK    WKMTKKN    INIHANM; 


Hiid  tHlktNl  to  tlioin,  bikI  lirttoiuMl  |iiiti(<iitly  to  their  McctMiiitH.  I 
Hoiit  liorHUM  into  tliu  inoiiiituiriM  to  liriii^  in  two  t)iMll,ywoiin<I(><1 
women,  ono  Khot  thronj^li  tlic  left  liin)(,  Hhd  oii«>  with  lui  nru\ 
HhHttei'«*(i.  ThoHO  wore  iitteniied  to,  und  are  doin^  well,  iui*l 
will  rin'ovor.  Their  cHUip  whm  surrounded  uiid  iittiieke<l  litdny- 
hntttk.  Ho  Hudden  Hud  unox|>e('ted  wart  it,  that  no  one  wua 
HWHke  to  give  the  alarm,  and  I  found  ({uittui  nuinlH^r  of  women 
HJiot  while  artleep  hoHidu  their  hundlert  of  hay,  which  they  hiid 
ctdleeted  to  hring  in  on  that  morning.  The  wounded  who 
were  unable  to  get  away,  hH<l  their  hraiuH  JH'aten  out  with 
eluhH  or  HtonuH,  while  Homo  were  Hhot  full  of  arrows  after  having 
heen  nu)rtally  wounded  by  guuhhot.  The  hodieH  were  ull 
fitripped.  Of  th(!  whole  numl)or  burieil,  one  wuh  an  <»Id  nniii 
and  (mo  a  well-grown  hojr  —  nil  the  roHt,  women  and  chil 
dreii.  Of  the  wliolo  number  killed  and  miKtdng,  about  unu 
hundred  and  twenty -iivo,  eight  only  wore  men.  It  ha^  been 
Raid'that  the  men  wore  not  thoro;  tliey  were  all  there.  On  the 
twenty -oighth,  we  counted  one  bundre<l  and  twenty-eight  men, 
a  Hmall  number  being  abuent  for  moHcal,  all  of  whom  liiivo 
Bince  been  in.  I  have  spent  a  good  deal  of  time  with  them, 
8inco  the  affair,  and  have  boon  aatonislied  at  their  continiud 
uuHhaken  faitli  in  mu,  and  their  perfectly  clear  uitderHtandiii;^ 
of  their  niiHfortune.  They  say:  '  Wo  know  there  a  great  many 
white  men  and  Mexicans  who  do  not  wish  us  to  live  at  peiice. 
Wo  know  tliat  the  l*aj)agoB  would  not  have  come  out  after  iw 
at  this  tiino  unless  they  had  l)cen  })er8uaded  to  do  so.'  WliHt 
tliey  do  not  understand  is,  while  thoy  are  at  peace,  and  are  coii- 
BciouH  of  no  wrong  intent,  that  they  should  be  murdered  l)y 
government  arms  in  the  hands  of  Papagos  and  Mexicans. 
One  of  the  chiefs  said:  '  I  no  longer  want  to  live;  my  wouicn 
and  children  have  been  killed  before  my  face,  and  1  Imve  been 
unable  to  defend  them.  Most  Indians  in  my  place  would  take 
a  knife  and  cut  his  throat,  but  I  will  live  to  show  these  j)e()i)ie 
that  all  thoy  have  done,  and  all  thoy  can  do,  shall  not  make  nie 
break  faith  with  you,  so  long  as  you  will  stand  by  us  and  defend 
us,  in  a  language  we  know  nothing  of,  to  a  great  goverror  we 
never  liave,  and  never  shall,  see.'  About  their  captives  they 
say:     'Get  them   back  for  us;   our  little  boys  will  grow  up 


OH,   1IIK    ll<>u|>KI(    WAKM   i»    TWn   (KMI  HIM. 


585 


hluvro,  Hll«l  olll*  ^il'ln,  ni^  HiHtll  HM  thl<y  HI'l!  Illl'^t'  «'rii)U^ll,  will    t»c 

iJiHoiiHud   proHtitiitc^,   to  ^t't   iiidticy   tor   wliuvxcr  owiih  tliciii 
Our  .wotiu'ti  Work  liiinl,  luwi  are  j^ood  woinuri,  uikI  t\ivy  un<i  our 
(•liil(lr»Mi  liuvtf  no  (liHcuMcrt."         #         *         «  «  «        * 

'I'lio  I'xtriict  from  hu'iit.  Wliitnimii'H  r«'|.orl  will  not  Ik-  rnul 
wiflioiit  trrliii^rt  ot'  |»it_v  i"<ir  tlio  mivii^ch  wlio  wrro  ho  ^llllllU'tullY 
tifutcd.  Vft  after  ull,  tlicv  liiul  vinitrd  u  niorc  cruel  aiul  liar- 
liiirourt  tdt'tiire,  uiid  a  more  wicked  dciitli,  upon  the  uid'ortuiiHte 
wliitcH  who  had  from  timi*  tu  time  fulteii  into  their  han<lH,  nnd 
itltliou^h  tliirt  fact  docrt  not  justifv  the  lawlcMM  courMi*  tukuii 
ill  tluM  maHHacre,  it  redcceu,  to  Home  extent,  the  ju*>t  indi^niatioti 
iii^aiuHf  the  perpetrators. 

We  liave  an  additional  account  of  thin  horrid  affair  tVom  the 
pen  of  one  of  the  post  hur;.jeons  attached  to  Lieut.  Whiti-man'rt 
coiiinumd.     Ho  say«:     "hii'Ut.  Whitenum  ordered  nte  to  p>to 
the  Indian  cump  to  render  medical  aHsintatice,  and  hrin^  down 
uiiv  wounded  I  mi((ht  iind.     I  took  twelve  men  (mounted)  and 
H  wafi;ou,  and  ])r«)ceeded  without  delay  to  the  Hcene  «if  tiie  mur- 
der.    On  my  arrival  I  found  that   I  nhoidd  have  hut  little  u-^e 
for  wa^on  or  medicine;    the  work  had  been   to(»  thorou;,ddy 
(lone.     The  camp  had  hecu  tired,  and  the  dead  hodioK  of  some 
twenty-one  women  and  chililren  were  lyin«^  wcattered  over  the 
ground;  those  who  had  been  wounded  in  the  first  instance  had 
their  brains  beaten  out  with  stones.     Two  of  the  best  looking 
of  the  Bquaws  were  lyin<jj   in  such  a  position,  and  from  the 
appearance  of  the  genital  orgatis  and  of  their  wounds,  there 
cim  be  no  doubt  that  they  were  first  ravished  and  then  shot 
dead.     Nearly  all  of  the  dead  were  mutilated.     One  infant  of 
some  ten  months  was  shot  twice,  and  one  leg  hacked  nearly  ofl*. 
While  going  over  the  ground  we  came  upon  a  squaw  who  was 
unhurt,  but  we  were  unable  to  gt^t  lier  to  come  in  and  talk,  she 
not  feeling  very  sure  of  our  go(»(l  intentions.     Finding  nothing 
further  coidd  be  done,  I  returned  to  the  post  and  reported  the 
state  of  affairs  to  Lieut.  Whiteman,  commanding  post." 

It  will  be  im])ossible,  in  view  of  the  sjtace  now  left  for  tlie 
completion  of  thi>  volume,  to  enter  into  a  narrative  of  nil  the 
petty  wars  with  the  Indians  on  the  Pacific  slope.  From  the 
earliest  settlement  of  the  country  by  the  Mexicans,  and  at  a 


ft»6 


TKorni.r.  with  nir  WKirriMew  iNpr^Nn: 


little  tiitiu'  (turiiMl  by  thu  AtiiuricuiiM,  down  to  thu  Mixloc*  vtar, 
thore  will*  h  contititiouii  wnr  with  the  Iiulinii  tril>o«,  ninonf^  tli9 
inoMt  prom iititn tot'  wliiuli  wvrw  the  A|Mifllioii,  KlttiiiHtli^,  Mot^x^t, 
and  othor  ImukIm.  fti  tliix  country,  which  wm  io  well  A<lnpt(>(t 
to  t\n\  rndiiiri  nio<iu  of  tlf^htin^,  it  wan  alnioMt  iinpoMiblo  to 
dufoiU  thu  Mivugurt,  no  nukttur  how  Htrong  thu  i'urcu  coinniaiuKid 
Hfi^ainitt  thutn.  Thoy  could  retreat  to  thu  moiintiiin  rccciic*,  in 
chaMiuM,  or  uinonf(  the  dark  piWHUM  in  thu  lava  hudM,  where 
Aineriuin  troopM  found  it  iniimnHihlu  to  follow.  And  if,  by 
dint  of  Htrugglu  and  Hacriticu,  thu  Duininit  wan  gained,  or  the 
chamn  penutrated,  it  only  opened  a  field  of  nufw  dangers,  uiid 
expoHed  them  to  thu  deadly  tire  of  a  barharouM  enemy,  wh!  'h 
could  not  be  eftcctually  returned. 

Hut  thu  Hurging  tide  of  Huch  a  war  wati  kept  up  on  the 
Pacific  bIojhj  for  iniiny  years.  Fiong  buforo  Col.  Fremont  pono- 
trated  this  country  with  hit)  hardy  mountainecrH,  thu  BJiarp 
report  of  the  unerring  rifle  was  heard  among  the  wa8tc0,  telliiijj; 
of  the  death  of  Hotnu  lurking  Huvage,  or  unfortunate  trapper. 
Bands  of  hostile  Indlanx,  pain^od  for  the  battle,  ranged  over 
thu  deserts,  on  mounttiin  summitH,  or  among  tho  deep  reccHHot^ 
of  the  wild,  uneven  (Country,  watching  tho  shiw  progresH  of 
immigrant  trains,  and  pouncing  upon  them  as  soon  as  a  favora- 
ble opportunity  presented  itself,  murdering  tho  men,  plundering 
the  train,  and  carrying  tho  women  and  children  into  a  harhiir- 
ous  captivity.  The  pen  refuses  to  write  of  tho  horrors  which 
surrounded  these  captive  women.  Their  suftbrings  were  often 
beyond  description,  and  always  replete  with  the  most  barhuroiig 
acts. 

But  after  many  years  of  war  between  these  Indians  and  the 
whites,  with  victories  first  for  civilization  and  then  for  barhur- 
ity,  tho  peace  commission  went  among  them  to  hold  Bucred 
councils,  and  promote  the  reservation  policy.  The  head  cliieta 
of  tribes  were  invited  to  meet  the  disciples  of  peace,  and,  actu- 
ated by  the  hope  of  receiving  liberal  presents  and  of  deliverance 
from  the  poverty  and  bondage  into  which  a  long  and  cruel  war 
had  forced  them,  they  came  in  great  numbers  to  shake  the 
white  chiefs  by  the  hand,  and  toll  the  story  of  their  wrongs. 

The  deliberations  between  the  commissioners  and  the  liuli- 


on,  TIIK    lloHOKK    WAKM   or  TWO  ('KfrriMIKM. 


837 


Hriii  woru  KHiiotiiiiuii  full  ot'  inturuMt,  nml  iimiiy  of  i\w  iihltMt 
•IM-ifhoM  of  tlio  chiufN  art)  worthy  of  prunurvHtioii  in  tlii«  vol* 
iiiiii^  AM  tlu^  will  pruaciit  to  thu  world,  to  h  gri^at  dogroo,  the 
condition  of  tlio  Indiuiu  at  tho  pruncnt  day.  IIowliNh-Wani* 
|N),  liuud  chiuf  of  thu  C!uyuiiv,  aftur  liititnitig  to  thu  addros*  of 
tlio  coniiniHMioncr,  ruplivtl  in  thoitu  wordit:  '*  Vou  talked  with 
»  gooil  hoart  when  you  told  nio  that  you  bt)liuvuil  in  Hod.  I 
thought  that  wuh  gtxxl;  that  Im  my  hoart,  tix),  whilu  I  Htand 
upot)  this  ground.  What  you  havu  i){H)lcon  t!n<i  people  havu 
lieard;  all  undorittand  what  you  havi*  Muid.  You  caino  hero  to 
lirit'i'ftain  what  ir  our  mind.  This  ruhurvation  in  nuirkod  out 
tor  UH.  Wo  Hi>u  it  with  our  uyoit,  and  our  huurtH,  wo  all  hold 
it  with  our  IxHlioit  an<l  with  «Mir  houIh.  Kight  out  hero  are  my 
tiithcr  uixl  mother,  and  hrothorM  and  HiHtortt,  and  children,  all 
buried;  I  um  guarding  their  graveti.  My  frioiul,  thiti  roHcrva- 
tion,  thiit  Hiuall  piece  of  land,  wo  look  upon  it  aH  our  mother — 
HH  if  oho  were  raiHing  \\h.  You  come  to  ask  mo  for  my  land. 
It  irt  like  art  if  we,  who  are  Indiann,  were  to  bo  Hcnt  away  and 
Kft  loHt.  [  look  upon  all  nidoM.  On  tho  outeido  of  tho  rcHer* 
vution  I  rtoo  your  hounen;  they  have  vjudows,  they  are  good. 
Vou  are  bringing  up  your  children  well.  What  is  the  reason 
you  white  men  who  live  near  tho  reservation  like  my  land,  and 
want  to  got  it?  You  muHt  not  think  bo.  My  friondd,  you 
inuHt  not  talk  too  utrong  about  getting  my  land.  [  like  my 
IhuiI,  and  will  not  lot  it  go.  You  have  been  nBking  my  heart 
about  the  reservation.     This  ia  my  heart." 

Wenap-snoot,  of  the  Umatillas,  said:  "Our  red  people 
were  brought  up  hero,  and  some  one  had  to  teach  them  as  they 
grew.  Those  who  were  taught  grew  up  well.  I  believe  the 
man  who  understands  and  follows  the  way  ho  is  taught,  grows 
up  well.  1  learned  from  tho  way  in  which  I  was  brought  up, 
and  I  am  going  to  have  my  children  taught  more,  and  they 
will  grow  up  better  than  I  um.  When  my  father  and  mother 
(lied,  I  was  left  hero.  They  gave  mo  rules,  and  gave  mo  their 
lands  to  live  upon.  They  left  me  to  take  care  of  them  after 
they  were  buried.  I  was  to  watch  over  their  graves.  I  do  not 
wish  to  part  with  my  land.  I  have  felt  tired  working  on  my 
land,  so  tired  that  tho  sweat  dropped  off  me  on  the  ground* 


Ir!t 


X.3S 


TROUlll.K    WITH    THK    WEHTKKN    INUIANH: 


Wliore  i8  all  tluit  (Jovonior  Stevens  and  Gen.  Pulmcr  said?  T 
am  very  fond  of  this  land  that  is  marked  out  for  me,  and  the 
rest  of  the  Indians  have  no  more  room  for  their  stock  tlmii 
they  need,  and  I  do  not  know  where  I'd  put  them  if  I  had  to 
confine  myself  to  a  small  ])iece  of  ji^round;  should  I  take  only 
a  small  piece  of  ground,  and  a  white  man  sit  down  Iniside  me, 
I  fear  there  would  be  trouble  all  the  time." 

A  chief  called  William,  sjmke  in  these  words:  "God  is 
my  Heavenly  Father;  yon  are  my  father  from  Washington. 
If  you  look  at  our  houses  you  will  see  they  are  very  poor.  I 
tell  you  we  are  very  poor;  me  the  tools  we  work  with  (exhib- 
iting a  stone  hammer  and  other  Indian  tools);  it  is  with  these 
we  have  to  build  our  houses;  we  use  a  stone  for  a  hammer. 
We  are  almost  all  dead,  but  we  are  glad  to  see  you.  One  of 
our  employers  treats  us  like  dogs;  he  uses  us  like  slaves.  I 
tell  you  the  truth,  he  struck  an  Indian  on  the  face,  and  the 
blood  gushed  out.  You  tell  us  to  talk  freely,  and  I  do  so. 
The  wliites  cheat  us,  and  some  of  our  agents  cheat  us.  I  speak 
to  you;  I  talk  in  the  presence  of  the  God  who  made  us.  I 
talk  to  you  as  my  father.  I  am  glad  to  see  you;  I  came  from 
one  of  these  tribes,  I  have  no  land  now.  1  am  u  poor  old 
man.  God  made  me;  the  whites  took  our  land.  Here  is  iny 
country  below  this  reservation;  near  it  is  the  Tulalip.  I  want 
a  paper  to  keep  any  white  men  away  when  they  come.  They 
scare  the  old  men  and  want  to  kill  us." 

Billy  Williamson  spoke  in  council  as  follows:  "Since  Mr. 
Meachara  came,  this  summor,  our  eyes  have  been  oj)ened.  Our 
saw-mill  is  almost  done,  and  we  expect  to  have  a  grist-mill 
soon.  Mr.  Brunot  comes  from  Washington,  and  I  want  to 
know  whether  what  I  said  before,  and  that  now,  was  put  on 
paper — did  my  words  go  to  Washington?  Then  the  Indians 
were  all  separated;  now  they  are  all  here,  If  you  go  to  see 
their  homes,  you  will  find  many  things  they  made  themselves. 
They  learned  it  from  the  whites  outside.  The  men  on  the  reser- 
vation did  not  learn  us.  When  the  treaty  was  made  we  were 
very  poor.  For  fifteen  years  we  have  been  talking  about  what 
was  needed.  Do  they  know  it  at  Washington?  Some  white 
men  e.  y  we  will  only  get  twenty  acres.     Where  I  came  from  I 


ianh: 

Palmer  said?  T 
t  tor  ine,  and  the 

their  stock  than 
them  if  I  had  to 
lotild  I  take  only 
down  iKJside  me, 

vords:  "God  is 
I'om  "Washington. 
are  very  jioor.  I 
work  with  (exhib- 
);  it  U  with  these 
ne  for  a  hammer, 
pee  you.  One  of 
us  like  slaves.  1 
the  face,  and  tlie 
reely,  and  I  do  so. 
cheat  us.     I  speak 

wlio  made  us.  I 
you;  I  came  from 

I  am  a  poor  old 
and.  Here  is  my 
!  Tulalip.    I  want 

hey  come.    They 


OR,   THK   HOKDKK    WARS   OF   TWO   CENTIIRIK8. 


589 


had  not  only  twenty  acres,  hut  a  hundred.  Everyhody  knows 
we  are  poor.  I  had  a  <'0W  and  a  yoke  of  oxen  long  ago;  that 
iri  all  I  have  now.  I  don't  want  to  lie  .to  God.  I  don't  think  I 
am  a  very  good  man.  1  may  tell  a  lie;  I  am  an  Indian.  I 
8j)eak  the  truth.  I  don't  drink.  I  don't  do  as  Indians  did  in 
old  times;  I  have  quit  that.  AVe  can't  do  everything  in  a  day. 
If  we  get  our  land,  we  need  cows  and  hoi'ses  and  plows  and 
wagons.  Then  we  won't  go  outside;  we  will  stay  liere.  Tliere 
are  a  few  half-breeds  here.  1  think  nothing  about  that;  they 
have  families  here.  I  want  to  know  if  money  was  sent  liere 
for  us.  Now  we  are  like  white  men.  You  know  about  God; 
80  do  these  Indians;  I  speak  no  bad  words.  White  men  and 
Indians  are  all  alike.  Some  Indians  liere  have  been  shot  a'"  1 
whipped  by  white  men  for  nothing.  Two  of  our  people  are  in 
Salem  penitentiary.  We  want  to  get  them  out;  they  did 
nothing.  White  men  gave  them  whisky  and  got  them  drunk, 
and  now  they  have  got  them  into  the  penitentiary." 

Such  were  the  men  and  such  the  complaints  which  met  tlie 
members  of  the  Peace  (Commission  in  the  far  West,  but  while 
these  speeches  indicate  the  understanding  of  wrongs  perpe- 
trated upon  themselves,  they  also  show  that  these  savages  were 
not  ignorant  of  the  crimes  which  they  themselves  had  com- 
mitted. Thus  while  their  complaints  beget  sympathy  on  the 
one  hand,  they  elicit  indignation  on  the  other. 


)ws:  "Since  Mr. 
)een  opened.    Our 

have  a  grist-mill 
1,  and  J  want  to 

now,  was  put  on 
Then  the  Indians 

If  you  go  to  see 

made  themselves. 

men  on  the  reser- 
as  made  we  were 

Jking  about  what 
m?  Some  white 
jrc  I  came  from  I 


/ 


CHAPTER    LXVIII. 


HiBTORT  OF  THE  MODOCS — UORRIBLB  MaSBACRB  OF  A  PaRTY  OK  IhMI- 

QKANTS— Ben  Wriqht'8  Venqkancb— Terrible    Destruction  o» 

THE    MODOCB    FROM   STARVATION  — CaNIBAMBM  —  THE    RESERVATION 
TROUB'-iiib. 

Perhaps  no  other  portion  of  this  narrative  will  be  more 
interesting  to  the  general  reader  than  that  which  now  follows, 
giving  a  history  of  the  Modoc  Indians  and  their  recent  wars 
agiiinst  the  whites.  Their  wild  homes  among  the  lava  beds  of 
Arizona  and  Northern  California,  which  have  been  rendered 
famous  by  the  thrilling  sketches  that  have,  from  time  to  time, 
appeared  through  the  newspapers  and  periodicals  of  the  United 
States,  liave  added  not  a  little  to  the  interest  felt  in  these 
peculiar  savages.  But  above  all  else,  the  recent  Modoc  war 
has  given  this  tribe  a  world-wide  notoriety. 

The  number  of  this  people  when  in  their  primitive  glory 
and  power,  must  have  been  many  Hioiisnnds.  The  remains  ot 
their  ancient  villages,  found  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes,  the 
streams,  and  the  forest  springs,  go  very  far  to  establish  the  fact 
of  their  former  greatness.  But  this  greatness  has  fallenf 
Their  power  has  passed  away,  and  as  a  nation  they  are  now 
nearly  extinct.  Only  three  or  four  hundred  of  these  brave 
natives  now  live  to  tell  us  the  singular  traditions  of  the  tribe. 
These  will  soon  pass  on  to  oblivion,  in  the  dark,  my8t(3rioii8 
way  in  which  all  llin  red  men  of  the  American  forests  have 
been  driven  by  civiliaation. 

i3ut  there  have  lieeu  sources  for  the  destruction  of  this  peo- 
ple other  than  that  which  civilization  has  produced.  1  refer 
to  the  deadly  conflicts  which  have  been  waged  upon  them  by 
the  flerce  Indians  in  the  wilds  of  the  neighboring  forests,  vague 
ftccoiiiiliii  of  which  have  come  to  us  upon  the  current  of  their 

(540) 


OR,   THE   BORDBR   WARS  OF  TWO   CENTURIES. 


Ml 


.strange  traditions.  But  these  were  not  more  effective  of  their 
ruin  than  tlie  wars  which  liave  taken  place  between  tliem  and 
the  early  settlers  of  Northern  California  and  Southern  Oregou. 
They  have  ever  been  an  obstinate,  unconquerable  race,  merci- 
leH8  in  war,  full  of  treachery  and  possessed  of  the  blackest 
stratagem.  Nor  has  the  romantic  country  in  which  they  built 
their  homes,  failed  in  furnishing  them  every  facility  for  the 
prosecution  of  war  after  their  treacherous  designs. 

As  early  as  1847  we  find  trains  of  Oregon  immigration  pass- 
ing through  their  country.  The  road  was  a  dangerous  one, 
winding  through  dark  caflons,  and  passing  under  precipitous 
cliffs  that  afforded  secure  and  impenetrable  ambuscade.  At 
every  opening  through  the  craggy  cliffs  bands  of  mounted  war- 
riors were  revealed,  who  seemed  to  be  watching  for  a  favorable 
0])i>()rtunity  to  capture  and  plunder  the  travelers.  If,  per- 
chance, the  train  was  weak,  the  warriors  would  rush  upon  it, 
slaughter  the  immigrants  and  capture  the  supplies.  Such  out- 
rages seem  to  have  been,  for  many  years,  their  chief  occupa- 
tion. 

The  first  in  this  dark  catalogue  of  which  I  have  any  well 
authenticated  information  was  in  1852.  In  this  year  a  small 
train,  comprising  only  eighteen  souls,  men,  women  and  children, 
made  an  attempt  to  reach  central  Oregon,  by  the  Rhett  Lake 
route,  ^.eaving  Pitt  Eiver  they  journeyed  for  several  days 
withoiJ  molestation,  not  having  observed  a  single  Indian. 
Reaching  the  eastern  shore  of  Rhett  Lake  they  encamped  under 
a  bluff,  now  called  "  Bloody  Point."  Here  the  weary  travelers 
rested — rested  forever  from  earthly  toils.  They  sat  down 
together  and  began  to  partake  of  some  refreshments,  under  the 
great  rocks  that  hung  in  grandeur  over  them ;  and  scarcely  had 
they  begun  to  congratulate  each  other  upon  the  unexpected 
quiet  of  the  Indian  country,  when  the  air  rung  out  with  the 
deafening  yells  of  ferocious  savages.  In  another  instant  count- 
less painted  Indians  poured  down  from  the  rocks  overhead. 
But  tlieir  bloody  work  was  soon  ended.  Only  one  escaped  to 
tell  the  horrors  of  the  massacre. 

In  reference  to  the  revenge  upon  the  Indians  for  this  terri- 
ble massacre,  William  M.  Turner,  in  an  able  article  in  the 


542 


TKornt-K  wrrii  tiik  wkstkkn  Indians: 


Ooeriund  Montldij,  wiys:  "The  men  of  eurly  times  in  rlioise 
mountivin.s  wero  bravo  iiiul  chivalrous  iiirii.  Fii  less  ilmii 
twenty-tour  hours,  a  mounted  t'oroo  t>t'  minorH,  puekerH,  tiiid 
prospcetors — men  who  feared  no  livin<^  tiling — wero  at  tlio 
scene  of  the  massacre.  The  remains  of  the  vietims  wero  foimd, 
nhockingly  niutihited,  lying  in  a  pile  with  their  broken  wagon,--, 
and  half  charred;  but  not  a  Indian  could  be  found.  It  wm 
not  until  tlie  next  year  that  the  Modocs  were  jjunished  for  this 
ernel  deed.  An  old  mountaineer  named  lien  Wright — one  of 
those  strange  beings  who  imagine  that  they  are  born  as  instru- 
ments for  tho  fulfillment  of  tlie  red  man's  <lestiny — organised 
an  independent  company  at  Yreka,  in  1853,  and  went  into  the 
Modoc  country.  Tho  Fudians  wero  wary,  but  Ben  was  patient 
and  enduring.  ACeeting  with  poor  success,  and  aceompHsliiiig 
nothing  but  protection  for  inc(jming  emigrants,  he  improvised 
an  'emigrant  train'  with  which  to  decoy  the  enemy  from  the 
cover  of  the  hills  and  ravines.  Winding  slowly  among  the 
hills  and  through  the  sage-plains,  lien's  canvass  covered  wagons 
rolled  quietly  along,  camping  at  the  usual  watering-places,  and 
apparently  in  a  careless  and  unguarded  way.  Every  wagon 
was  tilled  with  armed  men,  anxious  and  willing  to  be  attacked. 
The  ruse  failed,  however;  for  the  keen-sighted  Indians  soon 
perceived  that  there  were  no  women  or  children  with  the  train, 
and  its  careless  movements  were  suspicious.  After  several 
months  of  unsatisfactory  skirmishing,  Ben  resolved  on  a  change 
of  tactics.  Surprising  a  small  party  of  Modocs,  instead  of 
scalping  them,  he  took  them  to  his  camp,  treated  them  kiiidiy, 
and  making  them  a  sort  of  Peace  Commission,  sent  tliem  with 
<.dive- branches,  in  the  shape  of  calico  and  tobacco,  bnck  to  their 
people.  Negotiations  for  a  general  council  to  arrange  a  treaty 
were  opened.  Others  visited  the  white  camp;  and  soon  the 
Modocs,  who  had  but  a  faint  appreciation  of  the  tortuon.!  ways 
of  white  diplomacy,  began  to  think  that  Ben  was  a  very  harm- 
less and  respectable  gentleman.  A  spot  on  the  north  bank  of 
Lost  River,  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  Natural  Bridge, 
was  selected  for  the  council.  On  the  appointed  day,  iifty-one 
Indians  (about  equal  in  number  to  Wright's  company) 
attended,  and,  as  agreed  upon  by  both  parties,  no  weapons 


SDIANS: 


OR,    TlIK    noKDKIt    WARS   OK    TWO    (  KNTURIKP. 


543 


'iirly  times  In  tlicse 

lU'ii.     In    lens   tliiiii 

iuerrt,  piiekiTH,  mid 

thing — were  tit  tlio 

vii'tiins  were  toimd. 

lioir  broken  Wiifron,,, 

I  be  found.     It  wiw 

re  punished  tor  this 

en  Wright — tme  of 

y  are  born  ha  iiiHtru- 

•destiny — orgiuiized 

),  and  went  into  the 

but  Hen  was  patient 

,  and  aceonipHsliiiig 

ants,  he  improvised 

the  enemy  from  the 

;  slowly  among  the 

vass  covered  wagons 

svntering-place.x,  and 

kvay.     Every  wagon 

ling  to  be  attacked. 

hted  Indians  soon 

dren  with  the  train, 

ous.     After  several 

resolved  on  a  change 

Modocs,  instead  of 

reated  them  kindly, 

ion,  sent  them  with 

bacco,  bnck  to  their 

I  to  arrange  a  treaty 

jamp;  and  soon  the 

)f  the  tortuou.3  ways 

n  was  a  very  harra- 

i  the  north  bank  of 

le  Katural  Bridge, 

inted  day,  fifty-one 

Wright's    company) 

arties,  no  weapons 


were  brought  to  the  ground.  A  niimlnu'  of  beeves  had  been 
killed,  presents  were  distributed,  and  the  day  passed  in  mutual 
professions  of  friendship;  when  Wright — whose  quick,  restless 
eye  had  Ihumi  busy — (piietly  lilled  his  pipe,  drew  a  match  and 
lit  it.  Tliis  was  the  pre-concerted  signal.  As  the  first  little 
cnrling  wr(>ath  of  smoke  went  up,  fifty  revolvers  were  drawn 
from  their  places  of  concealment  by  Wright's  men,  who  were 
now  scattered  among  their  intended  victims;  a  few  moments 
of  ra])id  and  deadly  firing,  and  only  two  of  the  Modocs  escaped 
to  warn  their  people  1" 

In  giving  a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Modocs,  the  same 
writer  says:  ''  In  1804,  when  old  Schonchin  buried  the  hatchet 
and  agreed  to  war  with  the  pale-faces  no  more,  he  said,  mourn- 
fully:  'Once  tny  people  were  like  the  sands  along  yon  shore. 
Now  I  call  to  them,  and  oidy  the  wind  answers.  Four  hun- 
dred strong  young'  men  went  with  me  to  the  war  with  the 
wliites;  only  eighty  are  left.  We  will  be  good,  if  the  white 
man  will  let  us,  and  be  his  friends  forever.'  And  this  old 
chief  has  kept  his  word — better,  perhaps,  than  his  concpierors 
have  theirs.  The  Modocs  thetnselves  offer  a  better  reason  for 
the  great  decrease  of  their  people.  They  say  that,  within  the 
memory  of  many  of  this  generation,  the  tribe  was  overtaken  by 
a  famine  that  swept  off  whole  ■anches,  and  they  speak  of  it  as 
if  remembered  like  a  fearful  (beam.  As  is  usual  with  savages, 
the  chief  labor  of  gathering  supplies  of  all  kinds,  except  those 
procured  by  fishing  and  the  chase,  devolved  upon  the  Modoc 
women.  Large  (juantities  of  himas  t,nd  wocas  were  already 
harvested,  but  the  predatory  character  of  the  surrounding  tribes 
made  it  dangerous  to  store  their  food  in  the  villages;  and  it 
was  customary  to  cackd  it  among  the  sage-brush  and  rocks, 
which  was  done  so  cunningly  that  an  enemy  might  walk  over 
the  hiding-i)laces  without  suspicion.  Snow  rarely  fell  in  this 
region  sufficiently  deep  to  prevent  access  to  tlie  cacJu's ;  but 
tha  iCodocs  tell  of  one  winter  when  they  were  caught  by  a  ter- 
rible storm,  that  continued  until  the  snow  was  more  than  seven 
feet  in  depth  over  the  whole  country,  and  access  to  their  win- 
ter stores  impossible.  The  Modocs,  like  all  other  Indians, 
have  no  chronology;  they  do  not  count  the  years,  and  only 


«44 


TKOUULB   WITH   TIIK    WIMTKKN    INDIANS: 


reckon  their  uhangen  hy  the  Beasons  of  summer  and  winter. 
Komarkable  events  are  remembered  only  as  coincident  witii  the 
marked  periods  of  lite;  and,  judging  from  the  probable  ago  of 
the  survivors  of  that  terrible  famine,  it  must  have  occurred 
over  forty  years  ago,  long  before  any  of  the  tribe  had  ever  looked 
upon  the  face  of  a  white  stranger.  These  wild  people  generally 
regard  such  occurrences  with  superstitious  horror;  they  rarely 
speak  of  the  dead,  and  even  long  residence  among  the  whites 
tloes  not  remove  a  superstition  that  forbids  them  to  mention 
even  a  dead  relative  by  name.  From  those  who  have  lived 
among  the  whites  since  early  childhood,  the  particulars  of  this 
season  of  suffering  and  desolation  are  obtained;  and  they  say 
that  their  parents  who  survived  it  still  speak  of  that  dreadful 
winter  in  shuddering  whispers. 

"  It  seems  that  the  young  men  of  the  tribe  had  returned, 
late  in  the  season,  from  a  successful  hunt,  when  a  heavy  snow- 
storm set  in;  but  these  people  —  like  children,  in  many 
things  —  had  no  apprehension,  as  their  present  wants  were 
supplied.  But  the  storm  increased  in  fury  and  strength;  the 
snow  fell  in  blinding  sheets,  for  days  and  days,  till  it  had  cov- 
ered  bush,  and  stunted  tree,  and  plain,  and  rock,  and  mountain, 
and  every  landmark  was  obliterated.  The  survivors  tell  of  fran- 
tic efforts  to  reach  the  cacluls:  liow  strong  men  returned  to  their 
villages,  weak  and  weary  with  tramping  through  the  yielding 
snov.',  in  search  of  the  hidden  stores.  They  tell  how  the  little 
brown  faces  of  the  children,  pinched  with  hunger,  drove  tlie 
men  out  again  and  again  in  search  of  food,  only  to  returi. 
empty-handed  and  hopeless;  how  everything  that  would  sus- 
tain life  —  deer  and  antelope  skins,  their  favorite  dogs — even 
the  t;kin8  of  wild  fowl,  used  as  bedding,  were  devoured:  how, 
■when  erery thing  that  could  be  used  as  food  was  gone,  famine 
made  women  out  of  strong,  brave  warriors,  and  a  dreadful 
stillness  fell  upon  all  the  villages.  They  tell  how  death  crept 
into  every  house,  till  the  liWng  lay  down  beside  the  dead  and 
■waited.  After  weeks  of  pinching  hunger,  and  when  in  the 
last  extremity,  an  opportune  accident  saved  the  largest  village 
on  the  south-eastern  extremity  of  llhett  Lake  from  complete 
extinction.    A  large  band  of  antelopes,  moving  down  from  the 


IA.N8: 

miner  rtnd  winter, 
coincident  with  tlio 
;he  probable  ago  of 
»u8t  liave  occurred 
•ibe  had  ever  looked 
ild  people  gencriilly 
horror;  they  rarely 
e  among  the  whites 
H  them  to  mention 
ose  who  have  lived 
e  pavticularri  of  this 
ftined;  and  they  say 
sak  of  that  dreadful 

tribe  had  returned, 
when  a  heavy  enow- 
children,   in    many 
present  wants  were 
•y  and  strength;  the 
iays,  till  it  had  cov- 
rock,  and  mountain, 
lurvivors  tell  of  fran- 
len  returned  to  their 
irough  the  yielding 
3y  tell  how  the  little 
hunger,  drove  the 
ood,  only  to  retun. 
,ng  that  would  sus- 
favorite  dogs— even 
ere  devoured :  how, 
od  was  gone,  famine 
ors,  and  a  dreadful 
tell  how  death  crept 
beside  the  dead  and 
^r,  and  when  in  the 
d  the  largest  village 
Lake  from  complete 
iving  down  from  the 


OR,   TIIK   IM)RDKR   WARS   OF  TWO   (?KNTURIIC8. 


546 


hills,  probal)ly  in  search  of  food,  attempted  to  cross  an  arm  of 
the  lake,  only  a  short  distance  from  the  village,  and  were 
caught  in  the  breaking  ice  and  drowned.     Those  who  had  snf< 
ticient  strength  left,  distributed  antelope  meat  among  the  fami- 
lies, and  it  was  then  tliat  the  shocking  fact  was  discovered 
tiiat  some  of  the  starving  people  had  been  driven  to  canni- 
balism.   In  one  house,  a  woman  was  found  with  the  half-eaten 
foot  of  her  husband  concealed  beneath  her  bed.     When  whole« 
some  food  was  given  her,  she  went  raving  mad,  and  confessed 
that  she  had  killed  him  to  save  her  life  and  the  life  of  her  lit- 
tle one.     The  survivors  tell  how,  when  the  spring  came,  and 
the  grass  grew  green  again  on  the  hills,  thi"  poor  demented 
creature  was  missing  —  decoyed  away,  perhaps,  by  some  friend 
of  her  husband,  and  murdered.     Some  of  them,  with  that  fond- 
ness for  the  supernatural  so  strong  among  all  savages,  aver 
that,  even  to  this  day,  that  woman's  voice  its  heard  in  mourn- 
ful  lamentation,  borne  on  the  night-wind  from  the  rugged 
cliffs  on  the  western  shore  of  the  lake,  often  and  often;  and 
they  tell  of  little  piles  of  rock  raised  by  unseen  hands  along 
the  western  mountain  —  Indian  signs  of  sorrow  and  mourning. 
"All  accounts  agree  that,  at  the  opening  of  spring,  it  was 
found  that  fully  one-half  of  the  people  had  perished,  and  that, 
in  many  houses,  there  was  not  a  single  survivor.    The  details 
of  this  fearful  famine  are  related  so  circumstantially  by  dif- 
ferent narrators,  that  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  of  their 
correctness.     But  the  Modoc  nation,  certainly  once  so  numer- 
ous, is  easily  counted  now,  and  their  days  are  numbered.     The 
spirit  of  the  majority  of  the  tribe  is  broken;  they  are  content 
to  he  cooped  up  within  the  limits  of  their  reservation,  in  a 
country  where  once  they  were  lords,  and  the  superior  race 
claims  their  former  possessions  by  the  right  of  might.     They 
are  part  and  parcel  of  that  problem  —  the  red  race,  created  by 
the  same  power  as  we,  for  God's  own  purposes.    Like  the  rest 
of  the  red  people  they  are  destined  to  speedy  extinction ;  and 
the  last  of  the   Modocs,  powerful   as  they   have  been,   will 
pi'obably  be  seen  by  the  present  generation  of  white  men." 

And  now  more  particularly  as  to  the  Modoc  war.     In  1864, 
a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Modocs,  Snakes  and  Klamaths,  by 


646 


TROUBLE   WITH   TlIK   WKirrKRN    INDIANR: 


which  it  was  agreed  tliat  thoHu  Indians  would  iinmediatoly 
repair  to  a  reservation  set  apart  tor  thuni  in  the  Bouthcrn  part 
of  Oregon.  The  Snakua  and  Klainaths  moved  on  to  the 
rc8crvation  cont'urniably  to  the  treaty,  aH  also  did  a  part  of  tlio 
ModocB  under  Chief  8chonchin.  A  Htrong  band  of  those 
Indians  under  Captain  Jack  remained  at  their  old  homes  near 
(vlear  Lake,  about  sixty  miles  frum  Klantath,  without  being 
seriously  disturbed  until  18((U. 


\S 


!\ 


)      / 


lANH*. 

i)u\d  immediately 
the  Boutliern  part 
moved  on  to  tlie 
J  did  a  part  of  tho 
jg  band  of  tliese 
uir  old  hon»e8  near 
ftth,  without  being 


A^ 


(;ha?t(:u  lxix. 

Ql'AHHKI.H    AmoNO   TlIK    InUIANH  (»N  TIIK  UkHEHVATION  —  DkPAHTUKB  OF 

Captain   Jack   and  Hih  Hand  kou  thk  Lava  Beds  — The  TnooPt 
I'lmsiK  TiiKM  )N  Vain  — Katai.  Attempts  or  thk  Peace  Commh- 

KI(»N  —  Ml'UDKIl     OK      TIIK      CoMMIHHIONKIlB  —  EXECUTION      OF      TUK 
MolMHTB. 

In  thk  year  1869,  Captain  Jack's  band  was  indnccd  to  go 
onto  the  reservation,  but  tliese  Indians  liad  not  been  long  in 
their  new  quarters  before  the  Klamaths  picked  a  quarrel  with 
thejn  which  terminated  in  disaster.  These  quarrels  on  the 
reservation  were  laid  before  the  authorities  at  Washington, 
whereupon  orders  were  issued  to  have  the  Modocs  removed 
to  another  part  of  the  reservation  where  they  would  not  come 
in  contact  with  their  enemies,  the  Klamaths;  but,  unfortu- 
nately, this  did  not  put  an  end  to  the  hostilities  on  the  reser- 
vation, and  soon  after  Captain  Jack's  band  resolved  to  depart 
for  tlieir  old  homes  among  the  lava  beds. 

Soon  after  Superintendent  Odeneal  succeeded  in  holding  a 
Odiiiicil  with  Captain  Jack's  band,  when  they  positively  refused 
to  return  to  the  reservation.  Tlie  military  were  now  called 
upon  and  Capt.  Jackson,  of  the  United  States  army,  with 
thirty  men,  was  ordered  to  visit  "Jack's  "  headquarters  with 
instructions  not  to  fight  except  in  defending  themselves 
against  injury.  Capt.  Jackson  delivered  his  message  to  the 
Modocs,  and  asked  them  to  lay  down  their  arms,  but  they 
refused.  One  of  the  leaders,  Scar-Faced  Charley,  mised  his 
gun,  and  with  an  oath  said  he  would  kill  one  officer  to  begin 
with.  He  fired  at  Lieut.  Boutelle,  who  was  in  front  of  his 
men,  shooting  four  bullet  holes  through  his  coat-sleeve.  Tliis 
led  to  a  battle  which  lasted  about  two  hours,  when  the  Indians 
escaped.    Their  rage  was  now  excited  to  the  highest  pitch,  and 

(547) 


■im>iiHi,K  wnii  iiiK  WMIKKN  inimanm: 


iKit'oro  tilt*  ihiy  cltrntHl  tliuy  iiiiiniorctl  itluvuii  citi/otiH.  Iininudi- 
Ht(«l;y  nt'tor  timy  r«tirt'<l  to  tlio  ('.t'l»U)mti*<l  Ijivh  IkmIh,  wlicmro  t\wy 
Y/vvii  |iurHiui(l  Uy  h  Htroiig  IhxIv  of  (IiiittHi  HtatcH  tronpH,  but  to 
no  piiipoHit.  Within  tlie  MtMMiro  r«'tr«>utH  of  tliiH  wild  coiiiitr}' 
i\wy  (IcHtui  tliu  Btron^tHt  forcu  of  trooph  tliiit  coiilil  bu  niurcliud 
Hf^tiiiiHt  tbuni,  uuxuy  tiiiiuH  (<]iiir^iii^  upoti  thuin  from  their 
HiiibiiHouhm  with  futul  ruHultH,  Hhootiii^  down  Holdierrt,  Hi!al|)iii^ 
tho  fHlhtii  and  thun  (<M;npin^  within  thuir  chuHni,  hiding  phieort. 

Aftur  th(t  troopH  hud  don»  ull  th<>y  could  do,  boing  Htill 
uniiblo  to  drivu  thoHit  fiorcu  IndiiiiiM  frotn  tlutir  Htron^hulds, 
tluty  tiirnt'd  th«  nmttiu'  over  to  the  p<'H(u'  ('«)nimiHHioner«  who 
tindurtook  to  hottht  the  ditliculty.  The  conimiHrtion  Hppoititt><l 
to  thiH  (Inty  conHiHtud  of  lion.  A.  H.  Mtuichuin,  (yimiriniin; 
lion.  .IertH«!  Apple^ato  and  Samiud  (yano,  of  Orej^ori.  This 
peace  board  (!t)ninien(!ed  itH  nogotiatioiiH  on  the  twentieth  of 
February,  and  after  holding;  Heveral  talk.**  with  the  leaders  of 
Captain  Jack'H  band  they  acknowledged  their  cauHe  as  hope- 
IcHH.  At  length  a  new  connni8Bion  was  formed  coiiriiHtin;;  of 
Gen.  E.  K.  8.  (Janby,  the  Itev.  Dr.  K.  Thonnw,  a  leudinj^ 
Methodist  divine  of  California,  Mr.  A.  i).  Meacham,  Judge 
Uosborough,  of  California,  and  Mr.  Dyer,  of  Orej^on. 

Soon  after.  Gen.  (^anby  telegraphed  to  (Jen.  Sherman  his 
0])inion  of  Modoc  affairs  in  wliich  lie  said:  ^'1  think  tliiit  a 
system  of  gradual  compnlsion,  with  an  exhibition  of  the  tun  ' 
that  can  be  used  against  them,  if  the  commiHsion  should  ii<^'iiin 
fail,  will  satisfy  them  of  the  hoj)eh!ssne88  of  any  further  resin- 
tance,  and  give  tlie  j)eace  party  sntKcient  strength  to  control 
the  whole  band.  Time  is  becoming  of  tlie  greatest  importance, 
as  the  melting  of  the  snow  will  soon  enable  them  to  live  in 
tlie  mountains.  This  will  greatly  increase  the  ditKcnlties  we 
have  to  contend  with,  as  they  will  then  break  up  into  Himili 
parties,  and  can  more  readily  make  their  escape  from  their 
present  location.' 

The  new  peace  commission  received  the  following  instrno- 
tions  from  Secretary  Delano,  of  the  Interior  l>o]>artinent: 
"The objects  to  be  gained  by  this  ('ommission  are  these:  First, 
to  ascertain  the  causes  which  have  led  to  the  ditiiculties  and 
hostilities  between  the  troops  and  the  Indians;  and,  secondly, 


ti/.oiirt.     linintxli- 
IkmIh,  wIk'Mco  th«7 
iiti'K  troopH,  hut  ti> 
tliiH  wilil  couiitr)' 
«Hml(l  1)0  iimri'licd 
thoin  from  tln-ir 
\  «oltlierH,HCul|)iii|J: 
iHiM,  hldiiiK  ])lii<'t'^. 
Ill  (U),  Rising  rttill 
their  rttronj^hoUlrt, 
oinMnrt«i<mt'r«  wlio 
niiii<rtii)n  iippoiiittHl 
jicham,  Ohiiinniui; 
of  Oregon.     This 
11  the  twentieth  t>t' 
witli  the  loaderrt  i)t' 
heir  cjuihc  as  hope- 
•med  coMrtiHtiug  «»t' 
riiomiifl,  a  leadinj? 
i.  Meaeham,  .liid^'O 
A'  Oregon. 
(}et>.  Sherman  his 
id:  "  I  think  tiiiit  a 
dhition  of  tlie  ton  ^ 
lission  Hhouhl  a<,'iun 
>f  any  fnrtlier  resin- 
Btrengtli  to  control 
greatest  importaiico, 
able  them  to  live  in 
,e  the  ditHcultiert  we 
break  up  into  hiiuiH 
escape  from  their 

le  following  instruc- 
iterior  Department: 
sion  are  these:  First, 
,  the  ditficulties  and 
lians;  and,  secondly, 


W^HO^'^«•' 


CAPTAIN  JACK,  Til£  MODUC  CHIEFTAIN. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MSBO 

(716)  873-4503 


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>'■  'S.J  ir     -  - 


OR,   THE   BORDER   WARS  OV  TWO  OKNTURIBfl. 


549 


to  devise  the  most  effective  and  jndioions  ineasuras  for  prevent- 
ing the  continuance  of  their  hostilities  and  for  the  restoration 
of  peace.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Department,  from  the  best 
information  in  its  possession,  that  it  is  advisable  to  remove  the 
Modoc  Indians,  with  their  consent,  to  some  new  reservation; 
and  it  is  believed  that  the  coast  reservation  in  Oregon,  lying 
between  Gape  Lookout  on  the  north  and  Cape  Perpetua  on 
the  south,  and  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  coast  range  of 
mountains,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean,  will  be  found 
to  furnish  the  best  location  for  these  Indians.  The  Commis- 
sion will  therefore  be  directed  to  make  an  amicable  arrange- 
ment for  locating  the  Indians  on  some  portion  of  this  reserva- 
tion, provided  it  is  possible  for  it  to  do  so,  and  provided  that 
said  Commission  is  not  of  opinion,  after  fully  investigating 
the  case,  that  some  other  place  is  better  adapted  to  accomplish 
the  purpose  of  the  Department;  in  either  of  which  events  the 
Commission  will,  before  finally  concluding  an  arrangement 
with  the  Indians,  hold  communication  with  the  Commissioner 
of  Indian  Affairs  and  receive  f\irther  advice. 

"The  Commission  will  in  no  wise  attempt  to  direct  the 
military  authorities  in  reference  to  their  movements.  It  will 
be  at  liberty,  however,  to  inform  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  wish  of  the  Department,  that  no  more  force  or  violence  be 
used  than  in  his  opinion  shall  be  deemed  absolutely  necessary 
and  proper,  it  being  the  desire  of  the  Department  in  this,  as 
well  as  in  all  other  cases  of  like  character,  to  conduct  its  com- 
munications with  the  Indians  in  such  a  manner  as  to  secure 
peace  and  obtain  their  confidence,  if  possible,  and  their  volun- 
tary consent  to  a  compliance  with  such  regulations  as  may  be 
deemed  necessary  for  their  present  and  future  welfare." 

Tlie  new  Commission  succeeded  in  holding  several  "  talks  " 
with  Captain  Jack  and  his  leading  men,  but  at  all  of  these 
they  assumed  a  defiant  attitude,  appearing  in  several  instances 
with  the  scalps  of  their  victims  fastened  to  their  belts.  On 
the  evening  of  the  tenth  of  April,  1873,  Bogus  Charley  visited 
the  camp  of  the  Commissioners,  and  informed  them  that  Cap- 
tain Jack  and  several  others  of  the  band  would  meet  for  a  talk 
at  the  spot  near  the  lake,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the  camo  of  the  Commissioners,  on  the  next  day.     Bogus 


11:1 


550 


TROOIII.K   Wmi   TH«   WRBTKRN   INDIANS! 


1 ,    If. 


Oharley  remained  with  the  Commissioners  all  niglit,  and  early 
on  the  following  morning  Boston  Oharley,  also,  visited  the 
camp,  and  stated  that  Oaptain  Jack  and  the  others  were  pre- 
paring for  the  council.  In  a  few  hours  after  the  peace  party, 
composed  of  Gen.  Canby,  A.  B.  Meacham,  Dr.  Thomas,  Mr. 
Dyer,  Riddle  the  interpreter,  and  his  squaw,  with  Bogus 
Charley  and  Boston  Charley,  wont  out  to  the  place  agreed  upon, 
where  they  met  Captain  Jack,  John  Schonchin,  Black  Jim, 
Schaok  Nasty  Jim,  Ellen's  Man  and  Hooker  Jim.  They  had 
no  guns,  but  each  was  provided  with  pistols. 

At  the  place  selected,  the  party  sat  down  in  a  circle,  and  Mr. 
Meacham  commenced  the  talk,  and  told  them  that  the  govern- 
ment and  people  of  the  United  States  wanted  to  do  them  good. 
He  was  followed  by  Gen.  Canby  and  Dr.  Thomas,  who  said 
much  that  was  calculated  to  pacify  the  Indians.  When  the 
last  speaker  had  finished,  John  Schonchin  began  a  reply,  but 
he  had  said  but  a  few  words,  when,  as  if  they  were  the  signal 
for  the  attack,  the  work  of  treachery  began.  A  dozen  shots 
were  fired  in  less  than  a  minute,  and  the  massacre  completed. 
The  first  shot  was  fired  by  Captain  Jack  himself,  who  shot  and 
killed  Gen.  Canby.  Mr.  Meacham  was  shot  by  Schonchin,  and 
Dr.  Thomas  by  Boston  Charley.  Mr.  Dyer  barely  escaped, 
being  fired  at  twice.  Kiddle,  the  interpreter,  and  his  squaw, 
also  escaped. 

The  troops  immediately  rushed  to  the  spot,  where  they 
beheld  the  dead  bodies  of  Gen.  Canby  and  Dr.  Thomas.  Mr. 
Meacham,  who  was  badly  wounded  by  a  pistol  shot  over  the 
left  eye,  was  taken  back  to  the  camp,  where  he  received  the 
necessary  medical  treatment,  but  the  troops  pushed  forward 
aflter  the  murderers,  but  the  latter  reached  their  retreats  in  the 
lava  beds  before  they  could  be  overtaken,  and  the  soldiers  were 
forced  to  return  without  vengeance, 

At  this  point  the  reader  will  naturally  inquire  as  to  the  diffi- 
culties which  prevented  the  pursuit  of  these  guilty  Indians. 
To  this  I  will  answer  that  the  retreats  of  these  savages  in  the 
lava  beds  were  utterly  inaccessible  by  troops.  Only  these  cun- 
ning Modocs  knew  the  paths  leading  through  the  fearful  chasms 
in  this  mountainous  country.  A  more  definite  description  of 
this  wild  and  broken  countrv  is  found  in  the  report  of  Dr.  J. 


«?Il3h'  '1--i--'T- 


OK,   Tilli:   BORDER   WARS  OF  TWO  GBNTURIBB. 


661 


8.  Newbury,  geologiB- ,  who  visited  it  in  1849,  with  a  surveying 
expedition.     He  says:    "The  valley  is  bounded  by  walls  of 
more  than  one  thousand  feet  in  height,  composed  of  dark,  lava< 
like  trap  or  red  scoria,  the  interval  between  them  forming  a 
nearly  level  lava  plain,  a  kind  of  congealed  sea,  of  which  the 
surface  was  everywhere  roughened  by  waves,  cooled  while  flow- 
ing; their  crests  black  and  ragged,  the  troughs  containing  a 
little  ash-like  soil,  which  supported  a  tangled  growth  of  sage 
nianzanita.     At  numerous  points  of  this  lava  plain  we  passed 
miniature  volcanic  vents  or  chimneys,  which  had  evidently 
been  formed  by  the  bursting  out  of  steam  or  gases  from  below; 
and,  in  more  than  one  instance,  we  noticed  subterranean  gal- 
leries or  caverns  having  a  diameter  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet,  an 
irregularly  circular  section,  and  extending  indefinitely  in  either 
direction.    The  chimneys  to  which  I  have  referred  probably 
communicAted  with  these  passages.    Near  Wright  Lake  occurs 
a  conical  mountain  of  trap  rock,  which  rises  to  a  height  of 
perhaps  fifteen  hundred  feet  from  the  plain  on  which  it  stands. 
The  south  shore  of  this  lake  is  bordered  by  a  mountain  range 
of  nearly  equal  altitude,  which  has  here  a  course  nearly  east 
and  west,  curving  round  toward  the  north.    Its  western  extrem- 
ity terminates  in  bold  headland  on  the  shore  of  Khett  Lake, 
and  is  connected  by  a  low  ridge  with  similar  hills  lying  north 
of  these  lakes.      This  connecting  ridge  forms  the   barrier 
between  Hhett  and  "Wright  Lakes,  is  composed  exclusively  of 
trap,  and  bears  on  it  a  conical  hill  of  blood-red  scoria,  which 
has  evidently,  at  no  distant  day,  formed  a  volcanic  vent.     On 
the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake  is  a  conical  hill,  considerably 
removed  from  the  cliifs  referred  to,  but  having  apparently  the 
same  structure.     Following  the  boundary  line  with  its  initial 
point  on  the  twelfth  mile,  we  reach  the  high  divide  of  moun- 
tains overlooking  Goose  Lake,  which,  almost  at  our  feet,  bears 
off  some  twenty  miles  to  the  north  and  south,  with  fertile  bot- 
tom lands  on  its  east  side.     On  the  -west  side  steep  ridges  put 
down  bluff  to  the  water's  edge.     Still  further,  the  country  is 
covered  with  juniper  timber.     In  the  distant  horizon,  Rhett 
or  Tule  Lake  is  barely  discernible.    Much  nearer  to  the  south- 
west is  Wright  or  Clear  Lake.    To  the  southward  the  country 


te't': 


663 


TROUBUC   WITH  THE   WKOTERN   INDIANS. 


lit       ' 


r.'f. 


if  streaked  with  sparse  timber,  and  presents  a  more  broken  and 
mountainous  appearance.  To  the  west  southwest  the  great 
Shasta  Butte  towers  with  its  bi-capped  peak,  whitened  with 
eternal  snows.  Passing  west  from  Goose  Lake,  a  measured 
distance  of  forty-four  miles,  the  country  is  timbered  and  cov. 
ered  with  masses  of  broken  and  loose  rocks,  cut  in  various 
directions  by  deep  ravines,  through  which  it  would  not  be  pos- 
sible to  operate  with  cavalry.  The  remains  of  many  old  Indian 
fortifications  are  to  be  found  in  this  district,  in  the  erection 
and  location  of  which  much  skill  and  judgment  would  appear 
to  have  been  manifested.  This  region  is  well  watered,  and 
there  are  also  numerous  small  patches  of  meadows,  a  few  acres 
in  extent,  covered  with  luxuriant  grass.  Here  large  numbers 
of  deer  abound,  also  brown  and  grizzly  bears,  and  numbers  of 
'jackass  rabbits.'  In  the  lakes  and  streams  are  to  be  found  an 
abundance  of  fish." 

In  the  following  May,  Boston  Charley  gave  himself  up  and 
volunteered  to  guide  the  troops  to  Captain  Jack's  stronghold. 
This  led  to  the  capture  of  Captain  Jack  and  his  whole  band,  a 
number  of  whom,  while  being  transported  in  wagons  to  head- 
quarters were  murdered  by  Oregon  volunteers.  These  Indians 
were  held  as  prisoners  until  July,  when  their  trial  took  place, 
which  resulted  in  the  conviction  of  Captain  Jack,  Schonchin, 
Boston  Charley,  Hooker  Jim,  Broncho,  alias  One-Eyed  Jim,  and 
Slotuck,  who  were  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  The  sentences  were 
approved  by  the  President  (with  the  exception  of  Broncho  and 
8lotuck,  whose  sentences  were  commuted  to  hard  labor  for  life), 
and  the  guilty  parties  were  duly  executed  at  Fort  Klamath,  on 
the  third  of  October,  1873.     Thus  ended  the  Modoc  troubles. 

A  good  deal  has  been  said  against  the  execution  of  these  Indi- 
ans by  the  clergy  and  religious  press  of  the  United  States,  but 
time  and  experience  have  shown  that  had  they  been  shot  at  the 
first  outbreak  on  the  reservation,  several  valuable  lives  would 
have  been  saved,  and  a  needless  expenditure  avoided.  No  band 
of  Indians  ever  so  richly  merited  extermination  as  the  Modocs. 
Their  depradations  and  treachery  have  resulted  in  a  loss  to  the 
nation,  in  the  untimely  death  of  Gen.  Canby  and  his  associates, 
which  cannot  soon  be  forgotten. 


CHAPTER    LXX. 
Tbb  Sbminolb  War— Earlt  SBrriiBRS  or  Florida  Ain>  Okoroia  — 

Iin)IAN   AND  NeORO  SlAVBRT— DIFFICULTIES  AxOMQ  THE  CrBBKB  — 

8ba  Coffbb'b  Band  —  Slaveb  Flee  to  Florida — Trbatt  with 

THE  CrEBKI. 

And  now,  in  conclusion,  let  us  notice  briefly  the  principal 
features  of  the  Seminole  war,  which,  among  the  dark  annals 
of  Southern  border  warfare,  h  the  only  contest  that  deserves 
particular  mention.    This  will  carry  us  back  many  years. 

Florida  was  settled  by  the  Spaniards,  in  1558,  who  were  the 
first  of  the  American  colonists  to  engage  in  the  African  slave 
trade.  The  Garolinas  were  settled  about  the  year  1630,  under 
charters  which  embraced  a  great  portion  of  the  territory  of 
Florida.  This  boundary  conflict  between  the  Spanish  settlers 
in  Florida  and  the  colonists  of  the  Garolinas  soon  led  to  open 
hostilities.  The  Carolinians  also  held  many  slaves,  among 
whom  were  many  Indians  who  resided  in  the  vicinity.  When 
the  boundaries  of  Florida  and  South  Carolina  had  been  estab- 
lished, "*the  colonists  found  themselves  separated  by  the 
territory  now  constituting  the  State  of  Georgia,"  which  at  this 
early  day  was  principally  occupied  by  the  Greek  Indians. 

The  Indian  slaves  belonging  to  the  Carolinians  soon  became 
tired  of  the  restraints  of  bondage,  and  escaped  into  the  country 
of  the  Greeks.  Their  example  was  soon  followed  by  the  Afri- 
can slaves,  who  also  fled  into  Georgia,  and  thence  with  the 
Indian  fugitives  to  the  Spanish  State  of  Florida,  where  they 
soon  became  a  separate  community,  protected  by  Spanish  laws. 
In  1736  the  numbers  of  this  community  were  greatly  increased 
by  the  large  desertions  from  the  Garolinas,  and  many  of  them 
were  formed  into  companies,  and  relied  on  by  the  Floridians  as 
allies  to  aid  in  the  defense  of  that  Territory.    Fostered  by 

*  The  Exiles  of  Florida. 

(553) 


064 


VTRUOOLKR   WITH    TIIK   BKMINOIJ»: 


1^' 


recognition  and  protection  from  the  Florida  Spaniards,  these 
exiles  soon  increased  in  numbers  and  strength,  and  hccanio 
formidable  enemies  to  their  former  masters. 

In  1738,  tlie  Colonial  Governor  of  South  Carolina  sent  a 
messenger  to  the  Governor  of  St.  Augustine,  with  a  dt>mand 
for  the  return  of  the  fugitive  slaves  in  Florida,  which  was 
promptly  rejectetl.  This  was  the  cotnmencement  of  a  long 
and  bloody  struggle  between  these  colonies,  which  soon  led  to 
the  establishment  of  the  colony  of  Georgia.  It  was  thought 
that  this  colony,  being  free,  would  afford  the  planters  of  Caro- 
lina protection  against  the  further  escape  of  their  slaves  from 
service.  These  exiles  were  called  by  the  Creek  Indians, 
"  Seminoles,"  the  same  name  that  was  afterwards  given  to  a 
very  strong  band  of  their  own  nation.  The  name,  in  Indian, 
signifies  "  Runaways." 

Georgia  had  not  been  established  a  decade  when  she  became 
a  slave-holding  colony,  bringing  the  slaves  of  her  planters, 
both  Africans  and  Indians,  into  the  very  neighborhood  of  the 
exiles,  who  had  long  been  free  under  Spanish  laws.  In  1750, 
a  difficulty  arose  among  the  Creek  Indians,  "  which  eventually 
becoming  irreconcilable,  a  chief  named  Sea  Coffee,  with  a  large 
number  of  followers,  left  that  tribe — at  that  time  residing 
within  the  present  limits  of  Georgia  and  Alabama — and  con- 
tinuing their  journey  south,  entered  the  Territory  of  Florida, 
and,  under  the  Spanish  colony  policy,  were  incorporated  with 
the  Spanish  population,  entitled  to  lands  wherever  they  could 
find  them  unoccupied,  and  to  the  protection  of  Spanish  laws." 
From  that  day  Sea  Coflfee  and  his  numerous  followers  refused 
to  acknowledge  Creek  authority,  or  be  represented  in  Creek 
councils.  Tlicy  elected  their  own  chiefs,  and  in  all  respects 
became  a  separate  tribe,  embracing  the  Michansukies,  with 
whom  they  united.  "  They  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  the  exiles, 
associated  with  them,  and'  a  mutual  sympathy  and  respect 
existing,  some  of  their  people  intermarried,  thereby  Strength- 
ening the  ties  of  friendship,  and  the  Indians  having  fled  from 
oppression,  and  taken  refuge  under  Spanish  laws,  were  also 
called  the  Seminoles,  or  runaways."* 

•  The  Exiles  of  Florida. 


OR,  TIIK    HOKDKK    WAHM  OK  TWO   CBNl-UKIia. 


666 


From  tlio  titno  that  Georgia  becanio  a  slavo-holding  colony 
to  thu  coininoticomont  of  tlie  lievoliitioiiary  War,  parties  of 
slaves  in  Georgia  and  in  South  Carolina  wore  constantly  leav 
ing  their  inaHters  and  joining  the  Soininoles  in  Florida.  This 
practit**)  was  largely  increased  by  the  movements  of  a  strong 
faction  in  Georgia  opposed  to  slavery,  and  led  to  the  exercise 
of  the  greatest  severity  over,  and  suflfering  among,  the  slaves. 
However,  the  Seminoles  enjoyed  their  liberty  among  the  Span 
lards  until  after  the  War  of  the  Kevolution,  many  of  them 
becoming  rich  in  Hocks  and  herds.  At  the  close  of  this  war 
the  authorities  of  Georgia  began  negotiations  with  the  Greeks 
for  the  return  of  their  fugitive  slaves,  which  soon  led  to  hos- 
tilities, and  a  long  series  of  complications  between  the  Federal 
government  and  the  local  government  in  Georgia. 

On  the  first  of  August,  1790,  President  Washington,  through 
the  Secretary  of  War,  Gen.  Knox,  effected  a  treaty  with  the 
Creeks,  who  were  represented  by  all  their  chiefs  and  princiiml 
men  of  their  tribe  in  New  York.  The  third  article  of  the 
treaty  stipulated  that:  "The  Creek  nation  shall  deliver,  as  soon 
as  practicable,  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  troops  of  the 
United  States  stationed  at  Kock  Landing,  on  the  Oconee  river, 
all  citizens  of  the  United  States,  white  inhabitants  or  negroes, 
who  are  now  prisoners  in  any  part  of  said  nation;  and  if  any 
such  prisoners  or  negroes  should  not  be  so  delivered,  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  June  ensuing,  the  Governor  of  Georgia 
may  empower  three  persons  to  repair  to  the  said  nation,  in 
order  to  claim  and  receive  such  prisoners  and  negroes." 
Although  the  Seminoles  were  not  represented  in  this  council, 
and  were  in  no  way  parties  to  this  treaty,  the  Creeks  proceeded 
to  act  for  them,  and  to  bind  them  to  deliver  their  prisoners 
and  negroes,  or  themselves,  up  to  their  former  persecutors.  It 
was  a  novel  treaty  for  the  fathers  of  our  liberty  to  frame,  and, 
as  we  shall  see,  produced  one  of  the  most  horrid  border  wars 
that  has  ever  been  waged  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Indians. 


CHAPTER     LXXI. 


.  ( 


Tmb  Hbhiiiolb  War  — DirFiovLTiBi  with  tub  Chrbki— Thsih  Ima- 

BIUTT    TO    RbTCRR    TOB    PdOITIVB    BLAVBI  — COMPLAUITt    Or   Trb 

8latbhou>brs  or  Oboroia  — Tbb  Oboroiari  Irvadb  Fix>rida  — 
Thbir  DBrBAT— Crobltt  to  SBTTiiBRi— Thb  Sboomd  Iryaiion— 

MORB    ScrrBRINO  —  BrITIIR    iHTBRrBRBROB    ARD    OOCOPATIOR     IR 
ObOROIA    ARD    FtX>RtDA  — TUH    FORT    Or    TUB  ExiIiBS  — Trb  FoRT 

Bu)WR    UP— Orbat  Drstrcotior  or   Humar   Lira— Comiibro» 
MBHT  or  tub  Firit  Sbmirolb  War.  i 

The  Greeks  soon  found  it  impoBsible  to  koop  the  treuty 
which  they  had  made.  Tlie  Seminoles,  of  course,  refuHe<l  to- 
recognize  or  be  bound  by  it.  They  claimed  to  be  a  separate, 
independent  tribe,  and  declared  that  the  attempt  of  the  Creeket 
and  the  United  States  authorities  to  dictate  what  they  should 
do,  or  should  not  do,  was  an  insult  to  their  dignity,  and  worthy 
only  of  their  contempt.  "  The  Greeks  dared  not  attempt  to 
bring  back  the  exiles  by  force,  and  the  government  of  the 
United  States  was  unwilling  to  invade  a  Spanish  colony  for  tlie 
purpose  of  recapturing  those  who  had  escaped  the  bond^  of 
oppression  and  had  become  legally  free."  In  1792,  when  this 
unpleasant  state  of  affairs  existed,  an  agent  by  the  name  of 
Leagrone,  was  sent  to  Florida  for  the  purpose  of  negotiating ' 
with  the  Spanish  authorities  for  the  return  of  the  fugitive 
slaves.  Tlie  sa'me  person  had  been  agent  to  the  Greeks,  and  he 
well  understood  their  views  in  regard  to  the  treaty.  On  reach- 
ing Florida,  he  found  the  authorities  of  that  province  entirely 
opposed  to  the  surrender  of  any  subjects  of  the  Spanish  crown 
to  slavery.  The  Seminoles  and  the  slaves  who  had  become  a 
part  of  their  community,  were  regarded  as  holding  the  same 
rights  which  the  white  citizens  of  Florida  held ;  but  this  was 
not  all.  The  representatives  of  the  King  of  Spain  in  Floridii 
encouraged  both  the  Seminoles  and  tlio  exiles  or  fugitives  to 

(SBO) 


OK,   TtIR    UORDKK    WAKN   Of   TWO   UMNTdHini. 


fiS7 


reAite  coinplianct!  with  the  troftty.  Nor  wore  tho  Cn^nka  united 
in  support  of  the  trcftty.  Those  known  at  the  '*  Lower  Oreeks," 
or  those  residing  on  the  southern  horder  of  Georgia,  were  half 
inclined  to  join  the  Spaniards,  and  McGellivray,  their  prinoi- 
pHl  chief,  was  alrtwly  raising  his  voice  against  the  IJnited 
States.  "This  man,"  says  Mr.  Giddings,  "exerted  groat 
influence  with  the  Indians.  He  was  the  son  of  an  Indian 
trader,  a  Scotchman,  by  a  Creek  woman,  the  daughter  of  a  d{s> 
tinguished  chief.  He  had  received  a  good  English  education; 
but  his  father  had  joined  the  English  during  the  lievolution, 
and  he,  having  been  offended  by  leading  men  of  Georgia,  had 
tiiken  up  his  residence  with  the  Indians,  and  became  tlieir  prin- 
cipal chief,  in  whom  they  reposed  implicit  confidence." 

But  the  difliculty  was  not  confined  to  the  Indians  and  the 
United  States.  The  people  of  Georgia  were  dissutisfied  with 
tho  treaty,  since  it  ceded  some  valuable  portions  of  their  land 
to  the  Indians,  and  they  were  loud  in  their  expressions  of  con- 
tempt for  the  actions  of  the  Federal  government.  The  agent, 
Leagrone,  writing  from  Georgia  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  uses 
theHe  words:  "To  such  lengths  have  matters  gone,  that  they 
(the  Georgians)  now  connider  the  troops  and  servants  of  the 
United  States,  who  are  placed  among  them,  nearly  as  great 
enemies  as  thev  do  the  Indians." 

With  this  (X>ndition  of  afiairs,  the  Governor  of  Georgia 
ruised  and  equipped  a  military  force,  invaded  the  Greeks, 
destroyed  one  of  their  principal  villages,  and  killed  several  of 
their  warriors.  But  notwithstanding,  the  Creeks  were  unable 
to  return  the  fugitive  slaves;  and  in  1794,  President  Washing- 
ton, in  a  special  message  to  Congress,  announced  the  failure  of 
all  efforts  to  maintain  peace  between  the  people  of  Georgia  and 
the  Creek  Indians. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  slaveholders  of  Georgia  had 
sustained  considerable  I'^ss  by  the  escape  of  their  slaves  to  the 
Seminole  community  in  Florida;  and  now  that  tlie  United 
States  government  had  failed  to  secure  the  return  of  these  fugi- 
tives by  treaty,  Congress  was  called  upon  to  make  an  appropri- 
ation out  of  the  public  treasury,  to  pacify  these  much-abused 
slaveholders,  but  that  body  was  already  beginning  to  see  the 


65b 


RMttUOLtJI   WITH    TIIK   RKMlNoLIOi: 


M^»^ 


A.      ^  »     i 


evili  of  lUvery,  unci  vrlmAy  rrf^iMHl  to  iiinke  tin*  dmirf^  iippfo- 
priation. 

It  Wdiild  RM^iii  tliAt  tliv  HeiiiiiiolvN  liiul  tnktm  tliv  t'ii|(itiv« 
•Uv(«  iiiidor  thoir  iminwliuto  pruttwtiuii,  aiuI  Uiin^  tlioiiiMlvnk 
At  oiimity  witli  tiie  ('rcol»,  from  whom  tlioy  IimI  RO|Ninit(>(l, 
thoy  worn  Arm  in  thoir  dotormiimtion  to  prumoto  thv  lilwrty 
which  botli  thtty  «nd  thoir  brothom,  tho  exilot,  wore  onjoying 
under  tho  Hpuniili  Irwi.  From  tliii  timo  until  1811,  tli«  fugi* 
tivut  rcmninod  touuro  with  their  friondi  tliu  Hominolvi  in 
Floridn,  altliough  tlio  pooplo  and  f(ovorrimont  of  C^oorgiu  vxcv- 
oiied  conitant  effort  to  dfoct  thoir  return  to  lK>ndiiKo.  In  tlio 
lait  mentioned  year  h  Ihw  wm  immmxI  by  ( longroiN,  in  tnw.ivt 
•OMion,  and  approved  by  the  Pn*sidont,  for  tnl(ing  {K>iiKoiiHi(»ii 
of  Florida. 

But  the  movement*  of  the  federal  government  were  too  hIow 
to  MtiRfy  tho  Georgians.  "  In  1812,"  sayH  Mr.  (biddings, ''  tlio 
Executive  of  Georgia,  apparently  entertaining  the  idea  that  his 
State  was  comiwtont  to  declare  war  and  make  peace,  raised  an 
army,  which,  under  tho  command  of  the  Adjutant-General, 
entered  Florida  with  tho  avowed  intention  of  exterminating 
the  Somirioles  M'ho  had  so  long  refused  to  surrender  tho  exiles; 
wliile  the  real  object  was  the  recapture  and  re-en slavomont  of 
the  refugees.  The  Creeks  of  the  liower  Town,  however,  to(»k 
sides  with  the  Sominoles,  in  opposing  this  piratical  foray  of 
slave-catchers.  The  army  having  penetrated  a  hundred  miles 
or  more  into  Florida,  found  itself  surrounded  with  hostile  sav. 
ages.  Their  supplies  were  cut  off;  the  men,  reduced  almost  to 
a  state  of  starvation,  were  compelled  to  retrace  their  steps,  and, 
with  great  loss,  the  survivors  reached  Georgia.  But  they 
robbed  those  Spanish  inhabitants  who  fell  in  their  way,  of  all 
their  provisions,  and  lotl  them  to  suffer  for  the  want  of  food. 
Nor  wore  the  Georgians  satisfied  with  taking  such  provisions 
as  were  necessary  to  support  life;  they  also  took  with  them  a 
large  number  of  slaves,  owned  by  Spanish  masters,  with  whom 
they  resided." 

Not  long  after  this  the  Legislature  of  Georgia,  impatient 
with  the  inactivity  of  the  Federal  government,  passed  an  act 
for  raising  a  force  "  to  reduce  St.  Augustine,  and  punish  tho 


\4 


OR,    rilK   Hi>HI>KN    WAMN  «>r    IWU  CKNTUHIM. 


659 


h(<  il»'i»ir«»<l  »ppfo- 


IndUni."  Another  Rriny  ot'  htiiitort,  tnippeni,  vn)(A)>oti()H  nnd 
iiivn  of  dviperatu  tbrttinuH,  wn«  rniM*<i;  iiiiinlwriii^  Hvc  hiin. 
(Irofi,  «nd  FloriiU  whk  iigiiiii  iiivndt>tl.  Thii  ()X|K)Uiti<>n  was 
inoro  NticcimNt'lil  than  thu  flrtt.  Hovoral  iniall  8t*niin(>Ut  tuwim 
wore  burnmi;  oorn-Heldn  woru dvMtrtt^fd,  and  UrKtt  lumU  of 
cAttlo  were  captured.  Ifuwevor,  none  of  thu  uxiloa  were 
captured.  This  state  of  warfare  waa  continu(>d  until  1818, 
when  Georgia,  being  unable  to  obtain  any  of  her  fugitive 
•laves,  gave  up  thu  contest.  Tliese  transactions  in  the  South 
excited  very  little  attention  at  the  National  Capital,  on  account 
of  the  dcc{K*r  interest  fult  in  the  issues  of  the  War  of  1812, 
which,  as  we  have  scon,  was  then  raging.  But  h'  the  Anieri* 
can  Congress  failed  to  bestow  proper  attention  upon  tlto  })end- 
ing  Seminole  War,  the  British  were  not  wanting  in  their  regard 
for  its  possible  advantages.  In  1814,  a  hostile  fleet  under 
I/r)rd  Coohran,  entered  ('hcsa|)cake  Bay.  This  British  com- 
mander issued  a  proclamation,  inviting  all  persons,  including 
slaves,  who  desired  to  leave  the  United  States,  to  go  on  board 
IiIh  Britannic  Majesty's  ships  of  war.  The  proclamation 
offered  them  homes  in  either  of  the  British  West  India  Islands. 
This  act  created  great  alarm  in  Georgia  and  even  in  the 
Carol!  nas. 

About  the  same  time  two  British  sloops-of-war  and  a  ntim> 
ber  of  smaller  vessels,  suddenly  appeared  in  Appakchicola  Bay, 
when  a  body  of  British  troops  was  landed  under  Lieut.-Col. 
Nichols,  with  the  avowed  intention  of  protecting  the  exiles 
and  the  Seminoles.  Tliis  officer  wasted  no  time  in  furnishing 
them  with  arms  and  ammunition,  which  they  gladly  accepted, 
and,  at  his  call,  fell  into  the  ranks  of  his  army  in  great  num- 
bers. In  November,  ho  built  a  strong  fort  on  the  cast  side  of 
the  Appalachicola  river,  about  thirty  miles  above  its  mouth. 
This  fort  came  into  the  hands  of  the  Seminoles  and  fugitive 
slaves  in  the  spring  of  1815,  when  the  British  withdrew  from 
the  South,  and  was  afterwards  known  as  the  "  Negro  Fort." 
In  the  same  year,  a  part  of  the  American  army  under  the 
immediate  command  of  Gen.  Gaines,  was  sent  to  the  Georgian 
frontiers  to  maintain  ])eace  between  the  slaveholders  and  the 
Indians,  and  the  ^'  Negro  Fort,"  as  well  us  the  fugitives  and 


mo 


irruiroof.KM  with   riiK  hkminomcm: 


'I 


■ 


. 


1 


>^ininoli>H  who  ^iirrMoiicd  it,  luKm  \n!(:nuu:  an  object  of  c/m- 
(|iieHt.  On  till)  Hixtoentli  of  May,  181<(,  (itn.  Ja^skiKin  wrote 
Oon.  Gninc'H,  Maying:  "  I  have  littlo  doiilit  of  the  fact  that 
thiH  fort  haH  hcon  OHtahliHhtHl  hy  Home  villains  for  the  jiiirjioHo 
of  rapine  and  phinder,  and  t.'iat  it  ought  to  be  blown  ii[) 
regardicBH  of  the  fj^nnuu]  on  whieh  it  otandH;  and  if  your  mind 
Hhonid  have  t)ie  Hatne  concliiHion,  destroy  it  and  return  the 
stolen  negroeH  and  |»roiH;rty  to  their  rightful  owners," 

The  receipt  of  this  order  was  all  that  Oen.  Gaines  waited  for. 
lie  immediately  deHpatched  ('ol.  ('linch,  of  the  regular  troopa, 
and  five  liundred  friendly  (/reeks,  under  their  favorite  chief 
Mclntiish,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  to  blow  up  tlie  "Negro 
Fort."  A  naval  force  was  seit  to  co-operate  with  Col.  Clinch, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  tweuly-seventh  of  July,  it  anchored 
in  the  river  opposite  the  fort.  The  land  force  had  apprfiachcd 
t<»  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  fort  three  days  before, 
and  erected  a  battery  from  which  a  heavy  cannotiade  was  con- 
stantly kept  up,  and  now,  joined  by  the  guns  of  the  naval 
re-enforcements  shot  and  ahells  were  poured  in  uj>on  tlie  poor 
exiles — men,  women  and  children,  to  the  number  of  three  hun- 
dred— murdering  them  without  mercy.  There  were  also  about 
forty  Seminole  Indians  in  the  fort. 

In  speaking  of  this  siegr,  Mr.  Giddings,  in  his  valuable  little 
book,  says:  "Mothers  and  children  now  slirieked  with  terror, 
as  the  roar  of  the  cannon,  the  wliistling  of  balls,  the  explosion 
of  shells,  the  war-whoops  of  tlie  savagei;,  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  and  dying,  foretold  the  sad  fate  which  awaited  them. 
The  stout-hearted  old  men  cheered  and  encouraged  their  friends, 
declaring  that  death  was  to  be  preferred  to  slavery.  Tlie 
struggle,  liowever,  was  not  protracted.  The  cannon  balls  not 
taking  effect  upon  the  embankments  of  earth,  they  prepared 
their  furnaces  and  commenced  the  fire  of  hot  shot,  directed  at 
the  principal  magazine.  This  mode  proved  more  successful. 
A  ball,  fully  heated,  reached  the  powder  in  the  magazine.  The 
small  size  of  the  fort,  and  the  great  number  of  people  in  it. 
Tendered  the  explosion  unusually  fatal.  Many  were  entirely 
buried  in  the  ruins,  others  were  killed  by  falling  timbers,  while 
many  bodies  were  torn  in  pieces.     Limbs  were  separated  from' 


OK,   THE    WmUKU    WARA   OF   TWO   CESTrUBIBI. 


561 


hii  object  ot'  o/tu- 
1.  JwskiKjn  wrote 

of  the  fact  tliiit 
J  for  the  j)ur|K»H(j 

to  b«  blown  np 
and  if  your  mind 
t  and  return  the 
DwncrB." 

UaineB  waited  for, 
;he  rej^ular  troops, 
eir  favorite  chief 
,w  up  the  "  Negro 
!  with<ol.  Clindi, 
f  July,  it  anchored 
cc  had  apjjrfiached 
three  dayH  before, 
mnonade  was  con- 
pins  of   the  naval 
d  in  uiK>n  the  poor 
inUr  of  three  liun- 
ere  were  also  about 

his  vahiable  little 
irieked  with  terror, 
balls,  the  explosion 
the  groans  of  the 
Ihich  awaited  them, 
iraged  their  friends, 
to  slavery.     The 
►e  cannon  balls  not 
irth,  tliey  prepared 
[ot  shot,  directed  at 
more  successful. 
Ithe  magazine.   The 
ber  of  people  in  it, 
Many  were  entirely 
Eling  timbers,  while 
rere  separated  from 


the  boilien  to  which  they  }\aA  been  attached,  and  death  in  all  it« 
horrid  formB  was  visible  within  the  doomed  fortreM.    Of  three 
hundred  and  thirty-four  bouIs  within  the  fort,  two  hundred  and 
flcventy  were  instantly  killed,  while  of  the  sixty  who  remained, 
only  three  escaped  without  injury.    Two  of  the  8urvivor&— one 
negro  and  one  Indian — were  selected  as  supposed  chiefs  of  the 
allied  forces  within  the  for;t.    They  were  delivered  over  to  the 
Indians  who  accompanied  Col.  Clinch,  and  were  massacred 
within  the  fort,  in  presence  of  our  troopit;  but  no  report  or 
record  shows  the  extent  of  torture  to  which  they  were  snb> 
jected."    Those  who  survived  their  wounds,  were  taken  back 
to  Georgia  and  re-enslaved  —  a  fate  but  little  better  than  that 
of  those  who  had  perished  in  the  ruins  of  the  fort.    The  prop- 
erty captured  by  the  military  in  this  campaign,  amounted  in 
value  to  over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
86 


CHAPTER    LXXII. 


The  First  Semimolb  Wau  — Mabsaciik  of  Likutenant  Scott  — 
Jackbon'8  Army  Invades  Florida,  and  Burns  Seminole  Towns— 
Peace — Porch asino  Slaves  From  Indians  With  Whisky— A 
Movement  to  Remove  the  Sbminoles  West  of  the  Mississippi — 
Osceola,  His  Wife,  Her  Fate,  and  His  Revenoe — The  Massa- 
cre at  Fort  Kino  — Louis,  the  Guide — Terrible  Massacre  at 
the  Great  Wahoo  Swamp. 

The  massacre  of  exiles  and  Seminoles  at  the  "Negro  Fort" 
led  to  the  first  formidable  Seminole  war,  in  which  the  surviving 
fugitives  joined.  Early  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1817, 
Gen.  Gaines's  scouts  brought  in  the  intelligence  that  the  Sem- 
inoles and  exiles  were  preparing  for  the  contest,  they  having 
purchased  arms  and  ammunition  from  the  Spanish  and  British 
merchants,  and  being  then  undergoing  the  necessary  drill. 
Gen.  Gaines  also  began  active  preparations.  Thus  matters 
continued  until  November,  when  a  boat  belonging  to  the 
United  States  was  ascending  the  Appalachicola  river  with  sup- 
plies for  Fort  Scott,  "  under  the  escort  of  a  Lieutenant  and 
forty  men,  in  company  with  a  number  of  women  and  children." 
As  soon  as  the  fugitives  and  Seminoles  became  aware  of  tie 
approach  of  the  convoy,  they  raised  a  band  of  warriors  for  the 
purpose  of  revenging  the  death  of  their  relations  who  perished 
at  the  fort-massacre.  The  party  proceeded  to  the  river,  and 
drawing  this  convoy  into  an  ambuscade,  massacred  Lieut.  Scott 
and  all  his  men  but  six,  and  all  the  children,  and  all  the  women 
but  one.  The  woman  was  carried  to  Suwanee  a  prisoner,  and 
the  six  soldiers  escaped.  Forgetting  the  fort-massacre,  where 
so  many  fugitives  and  Seminoles  were  needlessly  destroyed  by 
the  United  States  troops,  the  American  government,  press  and 
people,  denounced  the  Massacre  of  Lieut.  Scott's  party  as 
wholly  unprovoked.     Gen.  Gaines  was  now  ordered  to  carry 

(562) 


OR,   TIIK   nORDRK   WARS  OF   TWO   OKNTDRIKfi. 


503 


[. 

ilKTJTBHAUT     SCOTT  — 
g  SEMINOIiB  TOWNB  — 

8    With   Whisky  — A 
'  OF  TUB  MiBSiseippi  — 

IVEHOB  — TlIK  MA88A. 
iRHIBLE    MA89ACUB  AT 

t  the  "Negro  Fort" 
which  the  surviving 
ad  Slimmer  of  ISlif* 
igence  that  the  Sem- 
conteat,  they  having 
Spanish  and  British 

the  necessary  drill, 
ons.     Thus  matters 
,t  belonging  to  the 
licola  river  with  snp- 
of  a  Lieutenant  and 
/omen  and  children." 
>ecame  aware  of  tie 
^  of  warriors  for  the 
slations  who  perished 
,ed  to  the  river,  and 
iiassacred  Lieut.  Scott 
sn,  and  all  the  women 

'anee  a  prisoner,  and 
fort-massacre,  where 
jdlessly  destroyed  by 
)vernment,  press  and 
mt.  Scott's  party  as 
^ow  ordered  to  carry 


an  oflfensive  war  into  Florida  for  the  purpose  of  punishing  the 
Seminoles,  and  Gen.  Jackson  was  sent  to  the  iiold  in  person, 
with  power  to  call  on  tlie  States  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia  for 
such  militia  as  he  might  deem  ned'essary  for  the  due  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war.  On  entering  the  field  he  called  on  the  State 
of  Tennessee  for  two  thousand  troops.  lie  also  organized  a 
very  strong  force  of  Georgia  volunteers.  The  Creek  Indians, 
under  llieir  favorite  leader,  Mcintosh,  also  joined  Jackson's 
force  in  large  numbers.  With  this  army  he  moved  upon  the 
Negro  and  Seminole  towns  near  Lake  Mickasukie,  defeating 
the  allied  forces,  burning  about  three  hundred  dwellings,  and 
capturing  a  considerable  supply  of  provisions. 

The  American  army,  under  Gen.  Jackson,  moved  on  to  St. 
Marks,  a  Spanish  fort  situated  on  the  river  of  that  name. 
While  Jackson  was  capturing  this  fort,  the  fugitives  and  Sem- 
inoles concentrated  at  the  "  Old  Town  "  of  "  Suwanee,"  where 
they  prepared  to  meet  the  Americans  in  battle.  In  due  time 
Jackson  approached,  and  atYer  a  severe  battle,  in  which  the 
negroes  lost  many  dead  upon  the  field,  the  allied  forces  were 
again  defeated.  The  Americans  entered  the  villages  and 
burned  all  the  dwellings  for  several  miles  on  either  hand. 
Tliey  also  captured  three  hundred  women  and  children,  while 
those  belonging  to  the  fugitive  negroes  had  been  prudently 
rejnoved  beyond  reach  of  the  invading  army. 

After  this  battle  Gen.  Jackson,  being  unable  to  follow  the 
exiles  and  Seminoles  into  the  Southern  portions  of  Florida, 
withdrew  with  his  army  to  St.  Mark's,  where  the  trial  and  exe- 
cution of  Arbuthnot  and  Ambrister,  which  has  been  celebrated 
in  history,  took  place.  Soon  after  this  event  Jackson  declared 
the  war  at  an  end,  and  withdrew  from  the  field  to  his  home  in 
Nashville. 

Thus  the  fugitive  negroes,  although  badly  defeated  in  battle, 
were  still  at  liberty,  and  the  vast  expenditure  ol  blood  and 
treasure  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  was  unavailing  in  the 
effort  to  re-enslave  them.  This  led  to  many  new  desertions  in 
Georgia,  and  as  a  consequence  of  the  latter,  revived  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  Georgian  slave-masters  to  put  an  end  to  Spanish 
rule  in  Florida.    The  purchase  of  Florida  now  became  the  all- 


V 


664 


fTTRDaOLKS   WITH   TIIK  flKMINOLKS: 


absorbing  theme,  and  in  Februry,  1819,  a  treaty  was  negotiated, 
and  in  consideration  of  five  millions  of  dollars,  Florida  was 
transferred  to  the  United  States,  and  the  Seminoles  and  fugj. 
tive  negroes  were  brought  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States. 

The  policy  of  removing  the  Seminoles  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi  was  now  introduced,  and  every  means  adopted  to  effect 
their  removal.  Meantime,  slave-catching  parties  invaded  Flor* 
Ida  and  carried  off  many  of  the  fugitives  into  bondage.  Not 
long  previous  to  the  second  Seminole  war  the  practice  of  pur- 
chasing these  fugitives  from  their  friends,  the  Seminoles, 
was  protected  by  the  authorities,  which  gave  rise  to  inde- 
scribable cruelties.  The  purchase  was  generally  made  with 
whisky  and  false  promises,  and  the  cruelty  with  which  the 
betrayed  negroes  were  treated,  was  truly  shocking.  This 
state  of  things  became  so  notoriously  wicked  that  orders  were 
at  length  issued  to  suppress  the  practice. 

Meanwhile  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  govern- 
ment had  effected  a  treaty  with  the  Seminoles,  in  which  they 
were  made,  through  the  influence  of  intoxicating  liquors  and 
bribery,  to  consent  to  remove  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
before  the  treaty  was  ratified  by  the  Senate,  or  approved  by 
the  Seminole  nation,  the  President  issued  an  order  to  the  mili- 
tary for  their  immediate  removal.  As  soon  as  the  Seminole 
chiefs  recovered  from  the  infiuences  which  had  been  brought 
to  bear  upon  them  at  the  council,  they  denied  having  made 
such  a  treaty,  and  refused  to  remove  from  the  reservations 
whifjh  had  been  assigned  to  them  by  former  treaties.  This  led 
to  the  second  Seminole  war.  The  number  of  fugitive  negroes 
in  Florida  at  this  time,  including  women  and  children,  was 
about  twelve  or  fourteen  hundred. 

The  Seminoles,  who  had  previously  maintained  only  a 
defensive  war,  were  now  excited  to  fury,  and  cruel  depredations 
followed.  "  A  young  and  gallant  warrior,"  says  Mr.  Giddings, 
"  named  Osceola,  was  the  principal  actor  in  one  of  these  scenes. 
He  was  the  son  of  an  Indian  trader,  a  white  man  named 
Powell.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  a  Seminole  chief. 
He  had.recently  married  a  woman  said  to  have  been  beautiful. 


OR,   THE    BORDER  WARS  OF  TWO  C1LNTURIK8. 


66A 


maintained  only  » 
and  cruel  depredations 
)r,"  saysMr.Giddings, 

in  one  of  these  scenes. 

ft  white  man  named 
r  of  a  Seminole  chief. 
to  have  been  beautiful 


She  was  the  daughter  of  a  chief  who  had  married  one  of  the 
exiles;  but  as  all  colored  people,  by  slave-holding  laws,  are  said 
to  follow  the  condition  of  the  mother,  she  was  called  an  AfVi- 
can  slave.     Osceola  was  proud  of  his  ancestry.     He  hated 
slavery,  and  those  who  practiced  the  holding  of  slaves,  with  a 
bitterness  that  is  but  little  understood  by  those  who  have  never 
witnessed  its  revolting  crimes.    He  visited  Fort  King  in  com- 
pany with  his  wife  and  a  few  friends,  for  the  purpose  of  trading. 
Mr.  Thompson,  the  agent,  was  present,  and  while  engaged  in 
business,  the  wife  of  Osceola  was  seized  as  a  slave.    Evidently 
having  negro  blood  in  her  veins,  the  law  pronounced  her  a 
slave;  and  as  no  other  person  could  show  title  to  her,  the  pirate 
who  had  got  possession  of  her  body,  was  supposed,  of  course, 
to  be  her  owner.     Osceola  became  frantic  with  rage,  but  was 
instantly  siezed  and  placed  in  irons,  while  his  wife  was  hurried 
away  to  slave-holding  pollution.     He  remained  six  days  in 
irons,  when,  Gen.  Thompson  says,  he  became  penitent,  and 
was  released.    From  the  moment  when  this  outrage  was  com- 
mitted, the  Florida  War  commenced.  Osceola  swore  vengeance 
upon  Thompson  and  those  who  assisted  in  the  perpetration  of 
this  indignity  upon  himself,  as  well  as  upon  his  wife,  and  upon 
our  common  humanity.    *    *    *    Other  Indians  and  exiles 
were  preparing  for  other  important  operations;   but  Osceola 
seeuied  intent,  his  whole  soul  was  absorbed,  in  devising  some 
plan  by  which  he  could  safely  reaph  Mr.  Thompson,  who  was 
the  object  of  his  vengeance.    He,  or  some  of  his  friends,  kept 
constant  watch  on  the  movements  of  Thompson,  who  was 
unconscious  of  the  danger  to  which  he  was  exposed.    Osceola, 
steady  to  his  purpose,  refused  to  be  diverted  from  his  favorite 
object.    Thompson  was  at  Fort  King,  and  there  were  but  few 
troops  to  protect  that  fortress.     But  Indians  seldom  attempt 
an  escalade,  and  Osceola  sought  an  opportunity  to  take  it  by 
Burprise.    With  some  twenty  followers  he  lay  secreted  near  the 
fort  for  days  and  weeks,  determined  to  find  some  opportunity 
to  enter  by  the  open  gate  when  the  troops  should  be  off  their 
guard.     On  the  twenty-eighth,  in  the  afternoon,  as  he  and 
his  followers  lay  near  the  road  leading  from  the  fort  to  the 
house  of  the  sutler,  which  was  nearly  a  mile  distant,  they  saw 


V 
•1- 
„( 


t 


I 


I 


666 


HTRITOOLHH   Wmi   TIIR   »KMINOLi<»: 


Mr.  Thompson  and  a  friend  approaching.  At  a  Hignul  given 
by  Osceola,  the  Indians  fired.  Thompson  fell,  pierced  hy  four- 
teen bullets;  Smith  received  about  as  many.  The  shrill  war 
whoop  followed  the  sound  of  the  rifles,  and  alarmed  the  puoplu 
at  the  fort.  The  Indians  immediately  scalped  their  victiiiiD, 
and  then  hastened  to  the  house,  where  Mr.  Rogers,  the  sutler, 
and  two  clerks  were  at  dinner.  These  three  persons  were 
immediately  massacred  and  scalped.  The  Indians  took  as  many 
valuable  goods  as  they  could  carry,  and  set  fire  to  the  build- 
ing." Osceola  and  his  companions  e8cai)ed,  quite  satisfied 
with  the  vengeance  they  had  wrought,  but  Htill  not  compensated 
for  the  enslavement  of  Osceola's  wife. 

At  this  point,  I  have  to  present  to  the  reader  the  naint;  of 
Louis,  that  intelligent  slave  who  became  so  conspicuous  in  this 
contest.  Major  Dade  had  been  ordered  to  march  with  hib  com- 
mand to  Fort  King.  The  distance  to  be  traveled  was  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  through  an  unsettled  forent, 
''  much  diversified  with  swamps,  lakes  and  hammocks."  No 
white  person  could  be  found  who  was  able  to  guide  the  com- 
mand over  the  route.  On  making  inquiry  for  a  suitable  guide, 
the  attention  of  Major  Dade  was  directed  to  Louis,  the  slave 
of  a  respectable  Spanish  settler,  who  resided  near  B'ort  Brook. 
Louis  was  recommended  by  his  master  as  a  faithful,  trustworthy 
man,  and  was  engaged  to  guide  the  party  over  the  dangerous 
wastes. 

Louis  thought  the  matter  over  long  and  carefully.  He  did 
not  wish  to  betray  his  new  master,  yet  he  felt  deep  syinjw- 
thy  for  the  exiles,  and  did  n^t  wish  them  to  be  re-enslaved,  and 
with  that  faith  which  has  enabled  many  a  slave  to  foresee  Ids 
freedom,  he  believed  that  the  hour  had  come  for  him  to  strike 
an  important  blow.  He  called  some  of  his  most  trustworthy 
friends  together  and  informed  them  that  Major  Dade,  with  his 
troops,  would  leave  Fort  Brook  about  the  twenty-fifth  of 
December,  for  Fort  King,  and  that  he  was  to  act  as  their  guide; 
that  he  would  lead  them  by  way  of  the  Great  Wahoo  Swamp, 
and  pointed  out  the  proper  place  for  an  attack.  This  informa- 
tion was  soon  communicated  to  the  exiles  and  the  Seniinoles, 
and  preparations  were  at  once  commenced  among  them  for 


w: 


OK,   THE   noKDRR   WAItfl   OF  TWO   OENTURIKB. 


m 


At  a  aigiml  given 
ill,  pierced  hy  tour- 
y.  The  Bhrill  war 
alarmed  the  peuplo 
,lped  their  victims, 
Rogers,  the  sutler, 
three  persons  were 
ndiaiiB  took  as  many 
jt  lire  to  the  Imild- 
,|)ed,  quite  satifltied 
itill  not  compensated 

reader  the  name  of 
»  conspicuous  in  this 
march  with  hii»  coni- 
j  traveled  was  about 

an  unsettled  forest, 
id  hammocks."  No 
)le  to  guide  the  coni- 
y  for  a  suitable  guide, 
d  to  Louis,  the  slave 

ed  near  Fort  Brook. 

faithful,  trustworthy 
y  over  the  dangerous 

,d  carefully.     He  did 
18  felt  deep  sympii- 
to  be  re-enslaved,  and 
a  slave  to  foresee  ids 
)me  for  him  to  strike 
lis  most  trustworthy 
Major  Dade,  with  his 
the   twenty-fifth  of 
to  act  as  their  guide; 
:>reat  Wahoo  Swamp, 
ttack.     This  informa- 
38  and  the  Seminoles, 
ced  among  them  for 


meeting  the  troops  at  the  point  designated.  Thither  marched 
a  large  force  determined  on  striking  a  fatal  blow  upon  the 
approaching  soldiers.  On  the  twenty. seventh  of  December, 
Dade's  command  had  reached  a  point  wJthin  three  miles  of  the 
Great  Wahoo  Swamp,  where  the  battle  was  to  be  fought. 

Mr.  Giddings  gives  a  very  pleasing  account  of  this  contest 
in  his  noted  little  book  on  the  "Exiles  of  Florida,"  in  these 
words:    "At  early  dawn,  the  men  were  paraded,  the  roll  called 
and  the  order  regulating  the  day's  march  given.    Tliey  were 
then  dismissed  for  breakfast,  and  at  eight  o'clock  resumed  their 
march,  and  proceeded  on  their  way  in  the  full  expectation  of 
reaching  their  destination  on  the  evening  of  that  day.     But 
an  insidious  foe  had  been  equally  vigilant.    They  had  left  their 
island  encampment,  with  the  first  light  of  the  morning,  and 
each  had  taken  his  position  along  the  trail  in  which  the  troops 
were  expected  to  march.      Some  thirty  or  forty  yards  dis- 
taut  each  man  was  hidden  behind  a  tree,  which  was  to  be  his 
fortress  during  the  expected  action.    A  few  rods  on  the  other 
side  of  the  trail,  lay  a  pond  of  water,  whose  placid  surface 
reflected  the  glittering  rays  of  the  morning  sun.      All  was 
peaceful  and  quiet  as  the  breath  of  summer.     Unsnspicious  of 
the  hidden  death  which  beset  their  pathway,  the  troops  entered 
this  defile,  and  passed  along  until  their  rear  had  come  within 
the  range  of  the  enemy's  rifles,  when,  at  a  given  signal,  each 
warrior  fired  while  his  victim  was  in  full  view  and  unpro- 
tected.   One-half  of  that  ill-fated  band,  including  the  gallant 
Dade,  fell  at  the  first  fire.     The  remainder  were  thrown  into 
disorder.    The  officers  endeavored  to  rally  their  men  into  line, 
hut  their  enemy  was  unseen,  and  ere  they  could  return  an 
effective  shot,  a  second  discharge  from  the  hidden  foe,  laid  one- 
half  their  remaining  force  prostrate  in  death.    The  survivors 
retreated  a  short  distance  towards  their  encampment  of  the 
previous  night,  and  while  most  of  the  exiles  and  Indians  were 
engaged  in  scalping  the  dead  and  tomahawking  those  who  were 
disabled,  they  formed  a  hasty  breastwork  of  logs  for  their 
defense.    They  were,  however,  soon  invested  by  the  enemy, 
and  the  few  who  had  taken  shelter  behind  their  rude  defenses, 
were  overcome  and  massacred  by  the  exiles,  who  conversed 


668 


nnuuoLics  WITH  tiik  hiciiinomcs: 


with  them  in  £ngliBh,  and  dispatched  them.  Only  two  indi- 
viduals besides  Louis  the  guide  made  their  escape.  Their 
gallant  commander,  his  officers  and  soldiers,  whose  hearts  had 
beat  high  with  expectation  in  the  morning,  at  evening  lay  pros- 
trate in  death;  and  as  the  sable  victors  relaxed  from  their 
bloody  work,  they  congratulated  each  other  on  having  revenged 
the  death  of  those  who,  twenty  years  previously,  had  fallen  at  the 
massacre  of  Blount's*  Fort.  The  loss  of  the  allied  forces  was 
three  killed  and  iive  wounded.  After  burying  their  own  dead, 
they  retired  to  the  island  in  the  swamp,  long  before  nightfall.  To 
this  point  they  bA)ught  the  spoils  of  victory,  which  were 
deemed  important  for  carrying  on  the  war.  Night  had  scarcely 
closed  around  them,  however,  when  Osceola  and  his  followcra 
arrived  from  Fort  King,  bringing  intelligence  of  the  death  of 
Thompson  and  fiieut.  Smith,  together  with  the  sutler  and  his 
two  clerks.  There,  too,  was  Louis,  i;he  guide  to  Dade's  com. 
mand.  He  was  now  free  I  He  engaged  in  conversation  with 
his  sable  friends.  Well  knowing  the  time  and  place  at  which 
the  attack  was  to  be  made,  he  had  professed  a  necessity  for 
stopping  by  the  wayside  before  entering  the  defile,  thus  sepa- 
rating himself  from  the  troops  and  from  danger.  As  soon  a» 
the  first  fire  showed  him  the  precise  position  of  his  friends,  he 
joined  them,  and,  swearing  eternal  hostility  to  all  who  enslaved 
their  fellow-men,  lent  his  own  efforts  in  carrying  forward  the 
work  of  death,  until  the  last  individual  of  that  doomed  regi- 
ment sank  beneath  their  tomahawks.  The  massacre  of  the 
unfortunate  Dade  and  his  companions,  and  the  murder  of 
Thompson  and  his  friends  at  Fort  King,  occurred  on  the  same 
day,  and  constituted  the  opening  scenes  of  the  second  Semi- 
nole war." 

*  Previously  spoken  of  as  the  "  Negro  Fort." 


CHAPTER    LXXIII. 


The  Srcomd  Sbminolb  Wau  — Thb  Battlb  or  thb  WiTntACOOOBBB— 
Bravery  of  Osceola— The  Semimoles  and  Neorobb  DsrEATBD— 

QKNBHAIi  OaINEB'B  FhUITI.BM  CAMPAIGN  —  ObOEOLA  ATTAOKB  MiCON 

oft  —  IIeilman's  Gallant  DBrBNSB— Tub  Battle  Bbtwbbn 
Pbarob  and  Osceola  — Sbvbral  Severe  Battles  — Tub  Semi- 
NOLEB  Hard  to  Conquer. 

These  massacres  fully  inaugurated  the  second  Seminole  war 
Gen.  Clinch,  with  tM'o  thousand  regulars  and  four  hundred 
Florida  volunteers,  under  Gen.  Call,  advanced  into  Florida,  and 
were  met  at  the  Withlocoochee  by  one  hundred  and  fifty 
Seminoles  and  fifty  exiles  under  Osceola  and  Halpatter. 
Tustenuggee,  where  a  deadly  battle  ensued  on  the  thirtieth  of 
December.  "  As  Osceola,"  says  Giddings,  "  now,  for  the  first 
time,  engaged  in  battle,  ho  felt  anxious  to  distinguish  himself 
by  his  intrepidity.  His  voice  was  heai'd  on  every  part  of  the 
field,  urging  on  his  troops  to  deeds  of  daring.  Undaunted  by 
the  shrill  war  whoop  and  the  constant  report  of  Indian  rifles, 
and  the  whistling  balls  around  him.  Gen.  Clinch  charged  his 
enemy.  The  allies  fell  back,  and  he  continually  advanced  until 
he  drove  them  from  the  thick  horamock  into  the  open  forest. 
Tlie  gallant  general  coolly  passed  along  the  lines  during  the 
action,  encouraging  his  men,  and  stimulating  them  to  eflfort  by 
his  presence  and  bravery.  A  ball  passed  through  his  cap,  and 
another  through  the  sleeve  of  his  coat,  to  which  he  paid  no 
attention,  but  continued  to  encourage  his  men." 

But  the  exiles  were  not  wanting  in  bravery.  They  fought 
with  desperation,  and  their  aim  was  fatal.  Eight  of  tho  reg- 
ular troops  were  killed,  and  forty  wounded,  of  whom  more 
than  one-third  died  of  their  wounds.  Several  officers  were  also 
wounded.    The  loss  of  the  allied  forces  were  two  negroes  and 

(569) 


670 


nuvoui.KB  WITH  riiK  hkminomm: 


'! 


I' 


uno  Indian  killed,  and  three  nugruci  and  two  Indians  wonndod. 
The  allicH  drew  off,  leaving  Gen.  ('linch  in  poHHCHHion  of  the 
field. 

In  January,  1880,  Maj.-Uen.  8cott  was  ordered  to  the  Held 
as  Commanding  General  of  the  army  in  Florida,  with  authority 
to  call  on  the  Governors  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Ala- 
bama for  necessary  troops.  Gen.  Eustis,  commandiug  at 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  was  directed  to  repair  at  once  to 
Florida  with  the  forces  stationed  in  that  city  and  Savannah, 
and  with  such  volunteers  as  he  might  require.  On  the  tenth 
of  January  Gen.  Gaines  arrived  in  Florida  from  New 
Orleans  with  a  brigade  of  eleven  hundred  men;  and  in  a  few 
days,  while  attempting  to  cross  the  Withlacoochee,  encountered 
the  allied  forces  to  a  considerable  number  under  "  Ino,"  and 
Osceola.  Being  driven  from  the  river,  and  being  unable  to 
retreat,  Gen.  GaincH  dispatched  a  messenger  to  Gen.  Clinch, 
who  was  at  Fort  Drane,  directing  that  oificer  as  soon  as  puH- 
pible  to  his  relief  with  such  troops  as  he  could  at  the  moment 
bring  with  him,  and  retired  with  his  forces  into  a  pine  barren 
half  a  mile  from  the  river,  where  he  threw  up  a  breastwork  of 
logs  for  the  protection  of  his  men,  and  awaited  assistance. 
The  allies  invested  his  camp  for  three  days,  when,  seeing  Gen. 
Clinch's  forces  approaching,  they  dispersed  and  fled. 

Osceola,  afier  the  massacre  of  Thompson  and  others  at  Fort 
King,  had  become  very  influential  among  tlie  Seminoles,  and 
liis  bravery  in  the  several  battles  in  which  he  had  been  engaged 
added  much  to  his  good  name  among  the  allies.  He  had  been 
raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  chief,  and  "  he  now  conceived  ajid 
executed  one  of  the  boldest  movements  ever  made  by  savages 
against  a  fortified  post  manned  by  regular  troops."  On  the 
ninth  of  June,  with  three  hundred  warriors,  about  one-quarter 
of  whom  were  negroes,  he  attacked  the  fort  at  Micanopy, 
which  was  then  defended  by  a  garrison  of  soldiers  equal  in 
numbers  to  his  own  force.  The  fort  was  under  the  commiind 
of  Major  Ileilman.  "  The  assault,"  says  Mr.  Giddings,  "  was 
maintained  with  determined  obstinacy  for  an  hour  and  a  half, 
the  assailants  boldly  facing  the  artillery  which  was  brought  to 


UK,   TIIK    noKIIKK    WAKN   or   TWO   CKNTtrKllOI. 


671 


lM>ur  upon  tlit'iii,  uiui  wliuii  t\wy  U'W  tho  icuiie  of  uetion,  tliujr 
carried  txwny  tliitir  dvud  und  woundiHl.'* 

A  Hhort  tiinu  pruvioiifl  to  tliiH  Imttlu,  Gf>n.  Scott  waa  with 
drawn  tVoin  tlu;  Huld  and  (k>M.  JuMMtip  appointed  to  his  place. 
Tlie  hitttT  had  Hucct'HHi'ully  utfuctod  the  removal  of  tliu  Creeks 
from  Georgia  to  their  reservation  in  tlio  West,  and  it  was 
hofHid  by  tlie  government,  tiiat  he  would  induce  the  Seminole* 
to  remove  there  also. 

On  the  twelfth  of  August,  Major  Poarco,  being  in  command 
at  Micanopy,  left  that  place  with  one  pieceof  artillery  and  one 
hundred  and  ten  regular  troops,  for  the  puqxtse  of  attacking 
the  allies  at  Fort  Drano.  In  due  time  he  reached  this  post, 
where  he  met  Onceola  with  about  one  hundred  followers,  ready 
to  meet  him  and  give  him  battle.  After  an  engagement  of  an 
hour  and  a  quarter,  Major  Pearce  was  compelled  to  fall  back, 
aud  Osceola,  being  unwilling  to  pursue  him,  he  retreated  to 
Micanopy  with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  sixteen  wounded. 

"But  tho  Indians  and  exiles,"  says  Mr.  Giddings,  '*now 
found  themselves  almost  daily  threatened  in  their  own  fast- 
nesses. Along  the  Withlacoochee  were  many  small  villages 
and  plantations  occupied  almost  exclusively  by  exiles.  Large 
croj)S  of  com  and  other  vegetables  had  been  raised  there 
during  the  season,  and  it  was  known  that  stores  of  provisions 
were  located  upon  various  islands  surrounded  by  the  swamps 
lying  along  that  river,  and  in  tho  great  morass  called  the 
'Wahoo  Swamp;'  while  it  was  equally  known  that  many 
families  of  the  exiles  were  residing  in  that  vicinity.  It  was 
therefore  deemed  important  to  destroy  those  villages  and 
obtain  the  supplies  which  they  contained.  Gen.  Armstrong, 
with  live  hundred  mounted  men,  wliile  marching  toward  these 
villages  on  the  fourteenth  of  November,  encountered  a  strong 
force  consisting  of  Indians  aud  exiles.  Tho  conflict  was 
spirited.  In  forty  minutes,  eleven  of  Armstrong's  men  fell 
before  the  deadly  aim  of  the  allies.  He,  however,  drove  them 
from  the  field,  but  they  took  with  them  their  dead  and  wounded. 
This  fact  with  savages  is  regarded  the  only  test  of  success  in 
battle;  they  never  acknowledge  defeat  while  they  hold  posses- 
sion of  their  dead  and  wounded.     But  the  time  drew  near 


579 


rriiuuuLn  wmi  tub  ikminolw: 


I 

■'I 


when  they  were  conttimlned  to  Mknowledge  %  d^«aL  On  the 
eighteenth  of  November,  %  regiment  of  TennefiecftUN,  conitiiit- 
Ing  of  about  five  hundred,  encountered  a  b4Kly  of  the  enemy 
whoM  numbere  are  not  given  by  any  ofllcor  or  hiktorian 
whom  we  have  consulted.  Tliey  were  |X)ated  in  a  hommock. 
Tlio  Tenneeaocana  were  the  aaaailing  party.  The  battlu  con* 
tinned  more  tlian  two  honra,  when  the  alliot  Hed,  leaving  \\\\on 
the  field  twenty-flvo  Indians  and  Africans  tlain  in  battle;  while 
the  loss  of  the  assailants  was  still  larger.  This  was  tlio  bust 
contested  battle  which  occurred  during  the  campaign  of  1886, 
and  the  first  in  which  the  allies  \i:h  their  dead  in  posseMsion  of 
our  troops.  This  detisat  appears  to  have  taught  the  allies  to  be 
cautious,  and  stimulated  a  desire  to  wipe  out  the  imprcssiun 
which  their  defeat  was  calculated  to  make  upon  the  public 
mind.  Gen.  Call  having  formed  a  junction  with  Mnj.  Penrce 
of  the  regular  service,  with  nearly  three  hundred  regular 
trouiis  under  his  command,  making  in  all  more  than  one  thou* 
Hand  men,  entered  the  Great  Wahoo  Swamp  on  the  twenty- 
tirttt  of  November.  Their  intention  was  to  obtain  the  provisions 
supposed  to  be  deposited  in  the  villages  situated  upon  the 
islands  in  tliat  extensive  morass.  But  they  were  attacked  soon 
atler  entering  the  swamp.  The  fire  at  first  was  principally 
concentrated  upon  the  Creek  Indians,  the  mercenary  troops 
employed  by  Gen.  Jessup.  Major  Pearce  hastened  to  their 
relief.  The  fire  then  became  general.  The  men  were  in  a 
swamp  which  was  nearly  covered  with  water,  and  much  of  it 
with  a  thick  underbrush.  Atler  maintaining  the  battle  for  a 
time,  the  Indians  fell  back,  crossed  the  river  and  formed 
upon  its  bank,  each  man  protected  by  a  log  or  tree.  Tlie  river 
was  turbid  and  appeared  difiicult  to  pass.  As  our  troops 
approached  it,  the  fire  upon  them  was  severe.  Capt.  Moniac, 
of  the  Creek  warriors,  was  killed  while  examining  the  stream 
to  ascertain  if  it  could  be  forded.  Others  were  wounded.  Tlie 
allied  force  apjiearod  determined  to  make  their  final  stand  upon 
this  stream.  Behind  them  were  their  wives  and  children,  their 
provisions,  their  homes  and- firesides.  Gen.  Call  and  his  troops 
now  obtained  an  opportunity  of  fighting  the  enemy;  a  privi- 
lege which  he  had  long  sought,  though  he  embraced  it  under 


OH,  THK   MDlUiKM   WAIW   ()»   TWO   OlOiTUHIl 


»78 


dimdvantageoui  oircumtUnoOi.*  Onr  truepie  had  i^umi  indnce- 
mtmU  to  mlvaiiois  hut  the  dAn||r«T8  corF^ii|#>nded  with  tlio 
advnntAges  to  hu  Kainud.  Gon.  CaII.  )i<>wcvor,  cou^lnded  to 
withdraw;  and  after  auttaining  a  heavy  1o«m  he  rutrcatod  and 
left  the  allien  in  pot«OMion  of  the  fl»ld.  Tlioy  very  correctly,  ftiel- 
irig  that  their  iiicceM  de|)ended  greatly  U))on  the  poaitiun  jthoy 
had  taken,  did  not  purine  Gen.  Call,  who,  with  hit  whole  force, 
retired  to  Volusi  to  recruit,  llig  lou  wna  fifteen  kiUed  and 
thirty  wounded.  It  is  cffrtuin  that  the  alliet  manifeated  gi^^t 
•kill  in  Helecting  their  place  of  attack,  and  the  position  for  their 
final  stand.  Tlieir  Muccess  greatly  encouraged  thorn,  and  the 
gallantry  displayed  hy  the  exiles  served  to  increase  their  influ- 
ence  with  the  Indians.  The  Greek  warriors  had  sliown 
themselves  very  ofHcient  in  this  expedition,  but  they  suffered 
severely ;  and  at  no  subsequent  }>eriod  did  they  maintain  their 
former  character  as  warriors.  They  had  been  greatly  stimu* 
lated  in  this  conflict  with  the  expectation  of  capturing  women 
and  children,  whom  they  expected  to  seize  and  sell  as  slaves. 
But  so  far  as  that  object  was  concerned,  their  warriors  who 
fell  in  this  battle  died  ingloriously,  and  the  result  discouraged 
the  survivors." 


CHAPTER    LXXIV. 


CONCIiUBION    OF.  TUB    SECOND    SkMINOLK  '  WaK  —  SevKRAL    BxTTIiBB  — 

Gen.  Jebbup'8  Peace  Policy— Hobtiutieb  Renewed  — SiiAVE- 
Catching  Parties  — The  Skminoleb  and  Exiles  persuaded  to  go 
West  —  Efforts  to  Sdhject  them  to  Creek  Authority  —  Invaded 
BT  the  Creeks  — Emigration  of  the  Exiles  to  Mexico. 

In  December,  1836,  Qev.  Jossup  entered  the  field  in  person. 
He  had  eight  thousand  troops  well  provided  with  all  materials 
of  war,  which  were,  to  a  great  extent,  concentrated  against  the 
villages  of  the  exiles  on  the  Withlacoochee.  He  directed  a 
battalion  of  mounted  men,  under  Major  Crawford,  accom- 
panied by  two  battalions  of  Creek  Indians,  to  make  a  sudden 
descent  upon  them,  but  most  of  the  settlers,  being  made  aware 
of  the  approach  of  this  force,  made  their  escape  to  the  swamps. 
Tlie  troops,  however,  seized  lifty-two  women  and  children. 

The  next  effort,  however,  was  directed  by  the  allies  against 
Fort  Mellon,  near  Lake  Monroe.  Tlie  forces,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  strong,  were  commanded  by  "Wild  Cat"  and  Louis. 
The  attack  was  made  with  great  determination,  and  continued 
for  three  hours,  but  the  assailants  were  driven  back  by  superior 
numbers.  They  sustained  no  loss,  however,  while  on  the  side 
of  the  Americans,  Capt.  Mellon  was  killed  and  several  others 
mortally  woundea. 

Soon  after  the  allies  were  defeated  at  Ahapopka  Lake,  when 
chief  Osuchee  and  three  warriors  and  nine  exiles  were  killed. 
All  of  their  women  and  children  were  taken  prisoners.  "  *AU 
the  disposable  forces  under  Gen.  Jessup  were  now  put  into 
active  employ.  With  the  main  body  of  the  army  he  pene 
trated  far  into  the  Indian  territory."  At  Tahopkaliga  Lake 
he  captured  seven  hundred  head  of  cattle,  which  afforded  sub- 


♦  Exiles  of  Florida. 


(574) 


OR,   THK    UOKDKK    WARS   OF   TWO   CENTURIES. 


575 


Bistence  for  his  army.  Near  the  Cypress  Swamp,  the  enemy 
was  attacked  and  all  his  horses  and  baggage  captured,  with 
twenty-five  Indians  and  negroes,  principally  women  and  chil- 
dren. On  the  day  alter  the  battle,  one  of  the  prisoners  was 
directed  to  return  to  the  two  principal  chiefs,  Abraham  and 
Alligator,  with  a  message  of  peace,  desiring  them  to  meet  the 
commanding  general  in  council.  The  chiefs  complied,  and 
visiting  the  general's  camp,  arrangements  were  entered  into 
for  holding  a  general  council  at  Fort  Dade,  on  the  eighteenth 
of  February. 

A  successful  excursion  into  the  Indian  country  was  also  made 
by  Eieut.-Col.  Henderson,  with  a  strong  force  of  mounted 
men.  He  captured  twenty-three  negroes,  young  and  old ;  over 
a  hundred  ponies,  with  packs  on  about  fifty  of  them;  together 
with  all  their  clothes,  blankets  and  other  baggage.  In  this 
expedition  his  loss  was  two  men  killed  and  five  wounded. 

Hoping  to  get  the  negro  and  Indian  chiefs  to  assemble  in 
council,  Gen.  Jessup  now  ordered  a  cessation  of  hostilities, 
and  on  the  sixth  of  March  a  few  of  their  principal  men  assem- 
bled at  Fort  Dade,  among  whom  were  Halatoochie  and  Jumper. 
After  much  diflficulty  a  treaty  was  agreed  upon,  wherein  it  was 
stipulated  that  the  Seminoles  would  go  west  of  the  Mississippi 
provided  their  allies,  the  fugitives,  were  allowed  the  same  priv- 
ilege and  guaranteed  the  same  protection,  "  ^Abraham  now 
entered  upon  the  work  of  inducing  all  his  brethren,  both  Indi- 
ans and  negroes  to  go  to  the  Western  country,  where  they 
could  be  free  from  persecutions.  Those  willing  to  emigrate 
were  to  assemble  within  a  district  of  ten  miles  square,  marked 
out  for  that  purpose, .  ear  Tampa  Bay.  Many  of  the  Indian 
chiefs  visited  that  station;  spoke  encouragingly  of  the  pros- 
pect; that  the  whole  nation  would  emigrate  at  no  distant  day. 
Even  Osceola,  the  most  inveterate  of  all  the  Seminole  chiefs, 
visited  Fort  Mellon,  avowing  his  intention  to  emigrate;  while 
Abraham  made  report  of  a  like  feeling  among  the  exiles. 
Twenty-six  vessels,  employed  to  transport  the  emigrants  to 
New  Orleans,  were  anchored  in  Tampa  Bay.  Hundreds  of 
Indians  and  negroes  had  reached  the  camp  assigned  to  the 

*  Gidding's  Narrative. 


676 


CTRUaOLES   WITH   TilK   HEMINOIJCS: 


emigrants,  near  '  Fort  Brooke.'  Tlieir  names  were  duly  reg. 
istered;  they  drew  their  rations,  and  made  every  preparation 
to  go  West.  Gen.  Jessup  announced  the  war  at  an  end,  dis- 
missed the  militia  and  volunteers,  and  asked  of  the  Department 
leave  to  retire  from  active  duty." 

But  no  sooner  had  Gen.  Jessup  made  this  report,  than  new 
difficulties  began  to  arise,  which  soon  resulted  in  renewing  hos- 
tilities. The  slave  interest  was  dissatisfied,  and  the  people  of 
Georgia  and  Florida  demanded  the  return  of  their  lost  slaves, 
and  seeing  that  the  fugitives  were  not  to  be  benefitted  by  the 
treaty,  the  Seminoles  withdrew  from  Tampa  Bay,  and  the 
exiles  retired  to  their  fastness.  In  renewing  hostilities.  Gen. 
Jessup  appears  to  have  fully  determined  on  carrying  out  the 
designs  of  Gen.  Jackson,  iji  1816,  when  he  directed  Gen. 
Gaines  to  "  destroy  the  fort  and  return  the  slaves  to  their 
owners."  From  this  time  forward,  says  Mr.  Giddings,  he 
lent  his  energies,  and  the  power  of  the  army,  to  the  object  of 
capturing  and  returning  slaves.  He  also  changed  his  mode  of 
prosecuting  the  war,  and  adopted  a  series  of  forays  for  the 
capture  and  enslavement  of  the  exiles.  In  the  previous  year 
he  had  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  Creek  Indians,  by 
which  he  stipulated  to  pay  them  a  large  pecuniary  compensa- 
tion, and  to  allow  them  to  hold  all  the  plunder  (negroes)  whom 
they  might  capture,  as  property.  The  same  inducements  were 
held  out  to  the  militia.  The  Choctaws  and  Delawares  also 
joined  these  slave-catching  expeditions,  while  their  more 
enlightened  brethren,  the  Cherokees,  refused  to  engage  in  hos- 
tilities towards  the  Seminoles,  but  offered  to  send  a  delegation 
of  their  people  among  them  to  advise  them  to  emigrate  west  of 
the  Mississippi.  John  Ross,  the  half-breed,  was  at  this  time  tlie 
principal  chief  of  the  Cherokee  nation.  But  it  will  be  impos- 
sible, with  the  limited  space  now  left,  to  follow  out  this  war  of 
detail,  on  the  one  hand,  or  the  negotiations  of  peace  on  the 
other.  Tlie  war  raged  with  fury  until  1843,  up  to  which  time 
more  than  five  hundred  persons  were  seized  and  enslaved.  To 
eflfect  this,  forty  millions  of  dollars  were  supposed  to  have  been 
expended.    "  ^Eighty '  thousand  dollars  were  paid  from  the 

*  Qidding'8  Narrative. 


b: 


OR,   TUB    BORDKR   WARS  OF  TWO  CENTURIES. 


677 


es  were  duly  reg- 
every  preparation 
ar  at  an  end,  dis- 
)f  the  Department 

,  report,  than  new 
id  in  renewing  hos- 
and  the  people  of 
»f  their  lost  slaves, 
5  benefitted  by  the 
npa  Bay,  and  the 
ig  hostilities,  Gen. 
n  carrying  out  the 
he  directed  Gen. 
he  slaves  to  their 
Mr.  Giddings,  he 
ny,  to  the  object  of 
hanged  his  mode  of 
»8  of  forays  for  the 
1  the  previous  year 
Creek  Indians,  by 
ecuniary  compensa- 
der  (negroes)  whom 
le  inducements  were 
and  Delawares  also 
while    their    more 
;d  to  engage  in  hos- 
;o  send  a  delegation 
to  emigrate  west  of 
was  at  this  time  the 
!ut  it  will  be  impos- 
lllow  out  this  war  of 
ns  of  peace  on  the 
,  up  to  which  time 
and  enslaved.    To 
Ipposed  to  have  been 
ere  paid  from  the 


public  treasury  for  the  enslavement  of  each  person,  and  the 
lives  of  at  least  three  white  men  were  sacrificed  to  insure  the 
enslavement  of  each  black  man.      The  deterioration  of  our 
national  morality  was  beyond  estimate,  and  the  disgrace  of  our 
nation  and  government  are  matters  incapable  of  computation. 
The  suffering  of  the  Indians  and  exiles,  amidst  such  prolonged 
persecution,  such  loss  of  life  and  property,  we  cannot  estimate. 
The  friends  and  families  who  were  separated,  the  number  of 
those  who  wore  made  wretched  for  life,  the  broken  hearts,  we 
will  not  attempt  to  enumerate.     Nearly  one-half  of  the  whole 
number  were  consigned  to  this  moral  death  of  slavery,  and 
numy  to  that  physical  death  which  was  dreaded  far  less  than 
slavery.     After  wandering  in  the  wilderness  thrice  forty  years, 
they  fell  under  the  oppression,  the  persecution,  the  power  of  a 
mighty  nation,  which  boasts  of  its  justice,  its  honor  and  love 
of  liberty.     We  lament  the  sad  fate  of  those  who  died  in  that 
struggle;  but  with  deeper  anguish,  and  far  keener  mortifica- 
tion, we  deplore  the  unhappy  lot  of  those  who  were  doomed  to 
drug  out  a  miserable  existence,  amidst  chains  and  wretchedness, 
surrounded  by  that  moral  darkness  which  hovere  over  the 
enslaved  portion  of  our  fellow-beings  in  the  Southern  States. " 
The  result  of  this  war  was,  that  the  exiles,  not  re-enslaved 
by  capture,  were  removed  to  the  Cherokee  lands  west  of  the 
State  of  Arkansas.     *  "  They  had  been  removed  from  Florida 
at  gi'eat  expense  of  blood  and  treasure,  but  they  were  yet  free 
and  the  object  of  the  administration  had  not  been  attained. 
Conscious  of  the  designs  of  the  Creeks,  the  Seminoles  and 
exiles  refused  to  trust  themselves  within  Creek  jurisdiction. 
They  were  tenants  at  will  of  the  Cherokees,  whose  hospitality 
had  furnished  them  with  a  temporary  home  until  the  govern- 
ment should  fulfill  its  treaty  stipulations,  in  furnishing  them  a 
territory  for  their  separate  use." 

In  this  situation  the  exiles  became  dissatisfied,  and  hostil- 
ities being  apprehended,  a  plan  was  set  on  foot  to  place  them 
under  Creek  authority  on  the  Creek  reservation.  Tliis  nation 
had  several  years  previously  been  removed  to  a  reservation 
west  of  the  Mississippi. 

*  Gidding's  Narrative. 


678 


STHUaOLKS    WITH    TIIK   BKMINOI.KS: 


The  Creeks  and  Seniinoles  had  been  separated  tor  nearly  a 
century,  and  had  lived  under  governments  entirely  independent 
of  each  other.  But  this  is  not  all.  They  had,  during  tliibi 
time,  often  been  at  war  with  each  other,  and  the  most  deadly 
feuds  had  been  engendered,  and  still  existed  among  them 
"To  unite  them  with  the  Creeks,  and  blot  the  name  of  'Sem- 
inole  '  from  the  page  of  their  future  history,  in  order  to  involve 
the  exiles  in  slavery,  had  long  been  a  cherished  object  with  the 
administration  of  our  government.  It  was  now  fondly  hoped 
that  that  object  would  be  accomplished  without  further  dilK- 
culty.  But  at  no  period  had  the  Seminole  Indians  regarded 
the  exiles  with  greater  favor  than  they  did  when  remaining  on 
the  territory  assigned  to  the  Creeks.  Although  many  of  them 
had  intermarried  with  the  Seminoles,  and  half-breeds  were  now 
common  among  the  Indians;  yet  most  of  the  descendants  of 
the  pioneers  who  fled  from  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  main- 
tained their  identity  of  character,  living  by  themselves,  and 
maintaining  the  purity  of  the  African  race.  They  yet  cher- 
ished this  love  of  their  own  kindred  and  color;  and  when  they 
removed  on  to  the  Creek  lands,  they  settled  in  separate  villages; 
and  the  Seminole  Indians  appeared  generally  to  coincide  with 
the  exiles  in  the  propriety  of  each  maintaining  their  distinct- 
ive character.  During  the  summer  and  autumn  both  Indians 
and  exiles  became  residents  within  Creek  jurisdiction;  and 
the  Executive  seemed  to  regard  the  trust  held  under  the 
assignment  made  at  Indian  Spring,  twenty-four  years  pre- 
viously, as  now  fulfilled.  Regarding  the  Creeks  as  holding  the 
equitable  or  beneficial  interest  in  the  bodies  of  the  exiles,  under 
the  assignnient  from  their  owners  to  the  United  States,  and 
they  being  now  brought  under  Creek  jurisdiction,  subject  to 
Creek  laws,  the  Executive  felt  that  his  obligations  were  dis- 
charged, and  the  whole  matter  left  with  the  Creeks.  This 
opinion  appears  also  to  have  been  entertained  by  the  Creek 
Indians;  for  no  sooner  had  the  exiles  and  Seminoles  located 
themselves  within  Creek  jurisdiction,  than  the  exiles  were 
claimed  as  the  legitimate  slaves  of  the  Creeks.  To  these 
demands  the  exiles  and  Seminoles  replied,  that  the  President, 
under  the  treaty  of  1845,  was  bound  to  hear  and  determine  all 


N 


irated  for  nearly  a 
tirely  imlep»!iul(!nt 
r  had,  clurinj;  thii* 
(\  the  most  deadly 
ited  among  them 
the  name  of  '  Sem- 
in  order  to  involve 
hed  object  with  the 
H  now  fondly  hoped 
thout  further  dilH- 
ile  Indians  regarded 
when  remaining  on 
lOiigh  many  of  them 
lalf-breeds  were  now 
'  the  descendants  of 
t  and  Georgia  maiu- 
by  themselves,  and 
,ce.    They  yet  cher- 
olor;  and  when  they 
I  in  separate  villages; 
-ally  to  coincide  with 
,ining  their  distinct- 
lutumn  both  Indians 
[ek  jurisdiction;  and 
'rust  held  under  the 
inty-four  years  pre- 
3reeks  as  holding  the 
■8  of  the  exiles,  under 
[le  United  States,  and 
risdiction,  subject  to 
[obligations  were  dis- 
li  the  Creeks.    This 
irtained  by  the  Creek 
^nd  Seminoles  lociiteil 
:han  the  exiles  were 
Creeks.      To  these 
,,  that  the  President, 
tear  and  determine  all 


OR,    TIIR    liORDRK    WAliU   OF   TWO   01*:NTUKIi<S. 


679 


questions  arising  between  them.     The  demands  were,  there- 
fore, referred  to  the  proper  department  for  decision.     But  this 
sitting  in  judgment  upon  tlie  heaven -endowed  right  of  man 
to  his  liberty,  seemed  to  involve  more  personal  and  moral 
responsibility  than  was  desirable  for  the  Executive  to  assume, 
and  the  claims  remained  undecided.     The  Creeks  became  impa- 
tient at  delay;  they  were  a  slavcholding  people,  as  well  as  their 
more  civilized  but  more  iniidel  brethren,  of  the  slave  States. 
The  exiles,  living  in  their  own  villages  in  the  enjoyment  of 
perfect  freedom,  had  already  excited  discontent  among  the 
slaves  of  the  Creek  and  Choctaw  tribes,  and  those  of  Arkansas. 
The  Creeks  appeared  to  feel  that  it  had  been  far  better  for 
them  to  have  kept  the  exiles  in  Florida,  than  to  bring  them  to 
the  Western  country  to  live  in  freedom.      Yet  their  claims 
under  the  treaty  of  1846,  thus  far,  appeared  to  have  been  dis- 
regarded by  the  President;  they  had  been  unable  to  obtain  a 
decision  on  them;  and  they  now  threatened  violence  for  the 
purpose  of  enslaving  the  exiles,  unless  their  demands  were 
peacefully  conceded.    The  exiles,  yet  confident  that  the  gov- 
ernment would  fulfill  its  stipulations  to  protect  them  and  their 
property,  repaired  in  a  body  to  Fort  Gibson,  and  demanded 
protection  of  Gen.  Arbuckle,  the  officer  in  command.     He  had 
no  doubt  of  the  obligation  of  the  United  States  to  lend  them 
protection,  according  to  the  express  language  of  the  articles  of 
capitulation  entered  into  with  Gen.  Jessep,  in  March,  1837. 
He,  therefore,  directed  the  whole  body  of  exiles  to  encamp 
and  remain  upon  the  lands  reserved  by  the  United  States,  near 
the  fort,  and  under  their  exclusive  jurisdiction,  assuring  them 
that  no  Creek  would  dare  to  set  foot  upon  that  reservation  with 
intentions  of  violence  towards  any  person.     Accordingly  the 
exiles,  who  yet  remained   free,  now  encamped  around  Fort 
Gibson,  and  were  supported  by  rations  dealt  out  from  the 
public  stores.     Soon  as  he  could  ascertain  all  the  facts.  Gen. 
Arbuckle  made  report  to  the  War  Department  relative  to  their 
situation,  and  the  claims  which  they  made  to  protection  under 
the  articles  of  capitulation,  together  with  the  rights  which  the 
Creeks  set  up  to  re-enslave  them.    This  state  of  circumstances 
appears  to  have  been  unexpected  by  the  Executive.    Indeed,  he 


trrKrtun.Kii  with  tiik  HKMiNoi.Kt): 


S 


Rp{M>Hrrt  t'ruin  tlie  coininciutMuont  to  linvv  uniiernited  tlio  ilifH- 
cnlticB  which  Iwaot  the  onsUvonuMit  ot'  a  j)0«)plo  who  wore 
detorminod  uix)ii  the  enjoyment  of  freedom;  he  Heems  to  hnvo 
ex{>octod  the  negroes,  when  once  phicwl  within  Creek  juriadic 
tion,  would  have  yielded  without  further  ett'ort.  l)ut  ho  wiirt 
now  placed  in  a  position  which  constrained  him  either  to  repu- 
diate the  pledged  faith  of  the  nation,  or  to  protect  the  exiles 
In  their  pernons  and  property^  accortling  to  the  solemn  cove- 
nants which  Gen.  Jessup  had  entered  into  with  theni.  Yet  the 
President  was  disposed  to  make  further  ettorts  to  avoid  the 
responsibility  of  deciding  the  (piestion  before  him.  Gen.  Jes- 
sup had  entered  into  the  articles  of  capitulation,  and  the 
President  appeared  to  think  ho  was  competetit  to  give  construc- 
tion to  them ;  he  therefore  referred  the  subject  to  that  officer, 
stating  the  circumstances,  and  demanding  of  him  the  substance 
of  his  wnd'Crtakitig  in  regard  to  the  articles  of  capitulation 
with  the  Exiles." 

Gen.  Jessijp's  reply  was  that  his  understanding  of  the  treaty 
was  that  the  Seminoles  were  to  be  separate  from  and  independ- 
ent of  the  Creeks  in  every  respect,  and  that  the  Seminole 
negroes  were  to  be  protected  from  slavery.  This  ex})lanation 
prevented  the  Executive  from  handing  the  Seminoles  over  to 
the  Creeks,  and,  for  a  tinie,  all  remained  quiet.  The  prospect 
that  the  Seminole  negroes  were  to  enjoy  })eace  in  their  new 
country,  seemed  very  bright,  until  an  individual,  a  slave-dealer, 
appeared  among  the  Creeks,  and  ottered  to  pay  them  one  hun- 
dred dollars  for  each  exile  they  would  seize  and  deliver  to  him, 
he  stipulating  to  take  all  risk  of  title.  "  This  temptation," 
gays  Mr.  Giddings,  "  was  too  great  for  the  integrity  of  the 
Creeks,  who  were  smarting  under  their  disappointment,  and 
the  defeat  of  their  long  cherished  schemes,  of  re-enslaving  the 
exiles.  Some  two  hundred  Creek  warriors  collected  together, 
armed  themselves,  and,  making  a  sudden  descent  upo;;  the 
exiles,  seized  such  as  they  could  lay  their  hands  u])on.  The 
men  and  most  of  the  women  and  children  fled ;  but  those  who 
had  arms  collected,  and  presenting  themselves  between  their 
brethren  and  the  Creeks  who  were  pursuing  them,  prepared  to 
defend  themselves  and  friends.     The  Creeks,  unwilling   to 


OR,   TIIK    ItoKDKK   WAKH   Of  TWO  OKNTUKIKK. 


Ml 


eiiconnU'r  tho  diuigor  which  thrcHtono<]  thom,  cchmhI  fnun  fur- 
ther |>ur8uit,  hut,  turuiiifj:  hm'k,  dra^^d  their  frightontHl 
victiniH,  who  hiul  Imhmi  alnwly  CHpturtnl,  to  tlio  CrwV  viWiagm, 
and  doliviMiHl  thuin  over  to  tlu>  Hlavo-denlor,  who  paid  thiMu  tho 
Htipulati'd  price.  The  StMiiinole  a^nt,  U^rniii^  tho  outra^, 
at  once  repaired  to  thcncare8t  Jud^>  in  ArkanHas,  andohtaino<i 
a  writ  of  hahea9  vorpu*.  The  exiles  were  hrouglit  lM>fon?  him 
in  ol)edience  to  the  command  of  the  writ,  and  a  hiuiring  wa« 
liad.  The  i^^ent  nhowtMl  tho  action  of  (}on.  JeMHup;  tho  nano- 
tion  of  the  capitulation  of  March,  1887,  hy  the  Kxecutivo;  tho 
opinion  of  the  Attorney -General,  and  tho  action  of  tho  l*re«i- 
dent,  deciding  the  exiles  to  Ih)  free,  and  in  all  roH|HM>tH  entithxl 
to  their  liherty.  Ihit  tho  , fudge  decided  that  tho  (vrt^ckH  had 
ol)taino<l  title  hy  virtue  of  their  contract  with  (Jen.  .IcHHup; 
that  noithor  Gon.  ,lc88up  nor  tho  PrcBidont,  had  power  to  eman- 
cipate tho  exiles,  even  in  time  of  war;  and  tho  Attorney- 
General  had  mi8und(>ratood  tho  law;  that  tho  title  of  thol^roek 
Indians  was  legal  and  perfect;  and  they,  having  sold  them  to 
tlio  claimant,  his  title  must  bo  good  and  perfect.  No  sooner 
was  tho  decision  announced,  than  tho  manacled  victims  woro 
luirriod  from  their  friends  and  the  scenes  of  such  transcondont 
crimes  and  guilt.  They  wore  placed  on  board  a  steamboat, 
and  carried  to  New  Orleans.  There  thoy  were  sold  to  different 
purchasers,  tiiken  to  different  estates,  and  mingling  witli  tho 
tide  of  humaTi  victims  who  are  septonnially  murdere<l  u])on 
the  cotton  and  sugar  plantations  of  that  State,  thoy  now  rest 
in  thoir  quiet  graves,  or  perhaps  have  shared  the  more  unhappy 
fate  of  living  and  suffering  tortures  incomparably  worse  than 
death." 

****¥t***  "There  yet  remained  some  hun- 
dreds of  exiles  in  that  far-distant  territory  unsubdued,  atul 
enjoying  liberty.  They  had  witnessed  the  duplicity,  tho  treach- 
ery of  our  government  often  repeated,  towards  theuiselves  and 
their  friends — they  had,  most  of  them,  been  born  in  fretHlom 
— they  had  grown  to  manhood,  liad  become  aged  amidst  per- 
secutions, dangers  and  death — they  had  experienced  the  constant 
and  repeated  violations  of  our  national  faith;  its  perfidy  was 
no  longer  disguised;  if  they  remained,  death  or  slavery  would 


OTKUOOLRM    WITH    TIIR  HKMINDI.KH: 


8 


oonstituto  their  only  alturnativo.  One,  and  only  one,  mode  of 
avoiding  bucIi  a  fate  remained — that  waH,  to  leave  the  territory, 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States,  and  flee  beyond  its 
])owor  and  influence.  Mexico  vim  free!  No  slave  clanked  Iuh 
chains  under  its  government.  Could  they  reach  the  Rio 
Qrando  —  could  they  place  themselves  safely  on  Mexican  soil, 
they  might  hope  yet  to  be  free.  A  council  was  held.  Some 
were  connected  with  Seminoles  of  influence.  Those  who  were 
intimately  connected  with  Indian  families  of  influence,  and 
most  of  the  half-breeds,  feeling  they  could  safely  remain  in  the 
Indian  territory,  preferred  to  stay  with  their  friends  and  com- 
panions. Of  the  precise  number  who  thus  continued  in  the 
Indian  country,  we  have  no  certain  information;  but  some 
three  hundred  are  supposed  to  have  determined  on  going  to 
Mexico,  and  perhaps  from  one  to  two  hundred  concluded  to 
remain  with  their  connections  in  the  Indian  country.  Abra- 
ham had  reached  a  mature  age;  had  great  experience,  and 
retained  influence  with  his  people.  Louis  Pacheco,  of  whom 
we  spoke  in  a  former  chapter,  with  his  learning,  his  shrewd- 
ness and  tact,  was  still  with  them,  and  so  were  many  able  and 
experienced  warriors.  Wild  Cat,  the  most  active  and  ener- 
getic chief  of  the  Seminole  tribe,  declared  his  unalterable 
purpose  to  accompany  the  exiles;  to  assist  them  in  their 
journey,  and  defend  them,  if  assailed.  Other  Seminoles  vol- 
unteered to  go  with  them.  Their  arrangements  were  speedily 
made.  Such  property  as  they  had  was  collected  together,  and 
packed  for  transportation.  They  owned  a  few  Western  ponies. 
Their  blankets,  which  constituted  their  beds,  and  some  few 
cooking  utensils  and  agricultural  implements,  were  ]>laced  upon 
their  ponies,  or  carried  by  the  females  and  children;  while  the 
warriors,  carrying  only  their  weapons  and  ammunition,  marched, 
unencumbered  even  by  any  unnecessary  article  of  clothing, 
prepared  for  battle  at  every  step  of  their  journey.  After  the 
sun  had  gone  down  (Sept.  10),  their  spies  and  patrols,  who  had 
been  sent  out  for  that  purpose,  returned,  and  reported  that  all 
was  quiet;  that  no  slave-hunters  were  to  be  seen.  As  the 
darkness  of  the  night  was  closing  around  them,  they  com- 
menced their  journey  westwardly.     Amid  the  gloom  of  the 


OK,    rilK    IIOKIIKK    WAHI*  ol-    TWO   CKNTUKIKH. 


683 


evonln^,  gllent  and  biuI  they  took  loavo  of  thoir  W^CHtorn  homeit, 
and  flt'<l  from  the  jiiriHclictlon  of  a  jH'opUi  who  had  centuries 
previonely  kidnapped  their  anceHt«n'H  in  their  native  homes, 
brought  tliom  to  thin  country,  euHhived  thoni,  and  during  many 
genemtionH  Iiad  porsocuted  them.  Many  of  their  friends  and 
rohitiveH  luid  Injcn  murdered  for  their  love  of  lilMjrty  by  our 
government;  others  liad  been  doonied  to  suffer  and  languish 
in  slavery — a  fate  far  more  dreaded  than  death.  At  the  period 
of  this  exodus,  their  number  was  probably  less  than  at  the  close 
of  the  Revolution.  When  the  slaveholding  Creeks  learned 
that  the  exiles  had  left,  they  collected  together  and  sent  a  war 
party  in  pursuit,  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  as  many  as  they 
could,  in  order  to  sell  them  to  the  slave-dealers  from  Louisianp 
and  Arkansas,  who  were  then  present  among  the  Creeks, 
encouraging  them  to  make  another  piratical  descent  upon  the 
exiles  for  the  capture  of  slaves.  This  war  party  came  up  with 
the  emigrants  on  the  third  day  after  leaving  their  homes.  But 
Wild  Cat  and  Abraham,  and  their  experienced  warriors,  were 
not  to  be  surprised.  They  were  prepared  and  ready  for  the 
conflict.  With  them  it  was  death  or  victory.  They  boldly 
faced  their  foes.  Their  wives  and  children  were  looking  on 
with  emotions  not  to  be  described.  With  the  coolness  of  des- 
peration, they  firmly  resolved  on  dying,  or  on  driving  back  the 
slave-catching  Creeks  from  the  field  of  conflict.  Their  nerves 
were  steady,  and  their  aim  fatal.  Their  enemies  soon  learned 
the  danger  and  folly  of  attempting  to  capture  armed  men  who 
were  fighting  for  freedom.  They  fled,  leaving  their  dead  upon 
the  field;  which  is  always  regarded  by  savages  as  dishonorable 
defeat.  The  exiles  resumed  their  journey,  still  maintaining 
tlieir  warlike  arrangement.  Directing  their  course  south- 
westerly, they  crossed  the  Rio  Grande,  and  continuing  nearly 
in  the  same  direction,  they  proceeded  into  Mexico,  until  they 
reached  the  vicinity  of  the  ancient  but  now  deserted  town  of 
Santa  Rosa.  In  that  beautiful  climate,  they  found  a  rich,  pro- 
ductive soil.  Here  they  "halted,  examined  the  country,  and 
finally  determined  to  locate  their  new  homes  in  this  most 
romantic  portion  of  Mexico.  Here  they  erected  their  cabins, 
planted  their  gardens,  commenced  plantations,  and  resumed 


584 


■TKUOULKM   WITH   TIIK   UMINUI.Km: 


their  fornior  Ifkbitit  of  agriciilturiil  lite.  Tlioro  they  yet  remain. 
Forcibly  torn  tVoni  thuir  natlvu  land,  opprvMseti,  wronged  and 
dogradiMJ,  they  Inscanie  voluntary  exiloH  from  South  Carolina 
and  (]}corgia." 

Ijy  the  foregoing  inconiploto  iketch  of  tlie  Hetninolo  war, 
the  reader  ha»  been  able  to  understand  some  of  the  hard«hip» 
that  l)efel  the  Indians  of  the  South  who  attempted  to  shield 
the  negroes  from  slavery.  It  is  useless  to  follow  the  fate  of 
the  Seminoles  farther.  Tlieir  name  was  applied  to  both  Indi- 
ans and  negroes,  and,  although  in  the  Indian  langungc  it  has  a 
distasteful  signitiuance,  it  has  become  justly  celebrated  in  his- 
tory and  honored  as  l)elonging  to  a  })eoplo  whoso  gallant  deeds 
hastened  emancipation.  The  Seminole  negroes  fled  from  a 
tyrannical  bondage,  which  they  could  no  longer  bear,  hoping  to 
find  freedom  and  protection  under  the  Spanish  laws.  In  this 
they  were  actuated  by  one  of  the  noblest  impulses  of  human- 
ity— a  desire  for  liberty.  The  Seminole  Indians  fled  into  the 
same  country  on  account  of  their  displeasure  of  their  brothers, 
the  Creek  Indians;  and,  through  a  wise  providence,  became 
instrumental  in  protecting  the  fugitive  negroes  fi<^m  re-en- 
slavement. Such  was  the  first  war  against  slavery,  and  to  the 
honor  of  the  savages,  be  it  said,  it  was  waged  by  that  tribe  ol 
Indians  known  as  the  Seminoles. 


S 


fv 


/        ' 


(MIAPTEU    LXXV. 

The  Indian  Wahs  ok  tiik  Houtiikun  Htatkm  — Tiuhkk,  Ktc— Kin« 
ToNMniiKiii  and  Hih  (jttKKN— Hohomwohtii  and  Maiiy  — a  Tiihii.* 

MNO    InoIDKNT— A   UKNKHAI.   WaU— UKN,    JaCKWJN'B     (^AMI'AION-^ 

Trhriui.k   Mabbacukh— IIahu  Fouoiit   Batti.kh  — Comi-i.ktk  Sub- 

JirOATION  OK  TIIK   InUIANH  —  UUAVEUY  OK  TUK  CKLKUHATKU  WUATII* 
EltKOUD. 

Our  flhort  and  Boinowhat  incomplete  narrative  of  tlie  Sonii- 
nole  war,  Iiub  created  a  domand  for  a  brief  account  of  the 
Indian  tribes  and  Indian  wars  of  the  Southern  States,  and  for 
our  information  in  this  regard  we  will  again  turn  to  Mr. 
Brownell's  "Indian  Ifeces  of  North  and  South  America." 
The  Creeks,  Cherokces,  Choctaws,  Ghickasawas,  Gatawbas, 
Uchees,  etc.,  were,  by  early  English  colonists,  all  held  under  a 
common  name — the  Creeks.  These  tribes  were  pretty  much 
alike  in  all  the  general  characteristics,  and  were  affected  by  the 
same  political  events  and  changes,  and  should,  therefore,  be 
considered  collectively. 

The  Catawbaa  dwelt  between  the  Carolinas  and  the  country 
of  the  Cherokees,  and  had,  in  1750,  through  intercourse  with 
the  whites,  become  more  degraded  than  other  tribes  of  the 
same  nation.  They  were  a  numerous  and  warlike  people  when 
South  Carolina  was  first  settled,  numbering  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred warriors;  but  small-pox  and  the  use  of  ardent  spirits 
reduced  them  to  a  few  scattering  bands.  As  mentioned  in  the 
opening  chapter  of  this  volume,  they  were  the  ancient  enemieft 
of  the  Six  Nations,  with  whom  they  had  waged  long  and  sav- 
agu  wars.  One  writer  says  of  these  Indians  that,  "  by  some 
fatidity  they  were  much  addicted  to  excessive  drinking, 
and  spirituous  liquors  distracted  them  so  exceedingly,  that 
they  would  even  eat  live  coals."  The  Upper  Cherokees  inhab- 
ited the  high  and  mountainous  region  of  the  Appalachian 

(585) 


.: 


08«l 


TIIK   HotlTIIKKN    INDIANN: 


X 


f 


rHii^i),  nnil  that  iipoti  tlio  upper  ixtrtioiin  of  t)io  Timimcmim* 
Tilt*  lt>\v«>r  trilHt  (M'(Mipi«<<l  tli»  coiiiitry  iiroiind  tint  lioiid  N\nti>rii 
lit'  tlio  Siiviitiimh  iuul  C))iutuh(H)rli«>f\  to  the  iiortliwtii'il  (»t'  the 
MiiBi'oj^eeH  or  (Jrcekn  pro|K>r.  In  the  veiir  IT.Mft,  rliey  were 
t'oiiipiited  hy  ohi  truiiem  to  niitnhur  Mix  thomtiuid  tifj;litiri^  iiioii. 
Ttiey  had  Mixty-tmir  pttpidouM  towiiH.  In  17i)M,  nearly  halt'  of 
them  poriHhed  hy  Hniall-pox.  Like  all  the  other  iintauf^ht 
nations  of  America,  they  wore  driven  to  perfect  doMporation  hy 
the  ravages  of  thitt  diHeaso.  The  Rauoe  to  which  they  aHcrilMHi 
it,  and  tho  fltranf^)  romedies  and  enchantmentH  used  to  Htay  its 
progress,  ar«>  alike  reniarkahle.  One  rourHC  was  to  plunge  the 
patientM  into  cold  running  water,  the  reHult  of  which  operation 
wuH  K|)ee<lily  fatal.  *A  gn«at  many  killed  themHclveH;  for, 
iHMng  naturally  proud,  they  are  always  peeping  into  their  look- 
ing-glaHsoH — by  which  moans,  seeing  thomselvos  disfigured, 
without  hope  of  regaining  their  former  honuty,  some  shot 
themselves,  others  cut  their  throats,  some  stahhed  themselves 
with  knives,  and  others  with  sharp- pointed  canes;  many  threw 
thcmselvos  with  sullen  madness  into  tho  fire,  and  there  slowly 
expired,  as  if  they  had  been  utterly  divested  of  the  native 
])ower  of  feeling  pain.  One  of  them,  when  his  friondrt  had 
restrained  these  frantic  ofTorts,  and  deprived  him  of  his  weapons, 
went  out,  and  taking  a  thick  and  round  hoe-helve,  fixed  one 
end  of  It  in  tho  ground,  and  repeatedly  threw  himself  on  it  till 
he  forced  it  down  his  throati  when  ho  immediately  expired, 
f  "  These  tril)C8  were  formerly  continually  at  war  with  the  Six 
Nations,  at  the  North,  and  with  the  Muscogecs  at  the  South; 
but  previous  to  their  war  with  the  English  colonies  they  had 
been  for  some  time  comparatively  at  poaoo,  and  were  in  a  thriv- 
ing and  prosperous  condition.  They  were  excellently  well 
supplied  with  horses,  and  were  'skillful  jockios,  and  nice  in 
their  choice.'  Tlie  lower  settlement  of  tho  Muscogecs  or 
Creeks,  was  in  tlie  coimtry  watered  by  tho  Chatahoochce  and 
Flint;  tho  upper  Creeks  dwelt  about  the  head  waters  of  tho 
Mobile  and  Alabama  rivers.  Their  neighbors,  on  tho  west, 
were  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws.    The  Creeks  were  a  nation 


*  Adair's  NurriiUvo. 

f  Browncll's  Indian  liiinob. 


=1- 


ON,    TIIK    IIORDKM      .  AKM   or   T>VO   <!|i;N  I UKIKK. 


ftS7 


fortni><l  \>y  tlir  union  of  «  iiiiinlN«r  ol*  minor  trihoit  with  tliu 
Miii«('o|(i*(>i(,  who  (•onititiii(<  tht)  niioloui  of  tho  roinhinntionii. 
Ahoiit  tho  ni!<lillo  of  t\m  «tighteonth  century,  they  woru  com- 
puted to  nun)lM*r  no  Iuh^.  titan  thr«>o  thotntund  (ivo  hundred  Mii>n 
cnpithle  of  l)CArln^  arniH.  They  hml  loHrne<l  tlio  nectmriity  of 
Heuludii\^  thoHO  infectmi  with  tho  iininll-pox,  lo  lu  to  livoid  the 
■proad  of  thi*  uontn^ioii,  and  tlieir  g(>neral  liahitM  and  uMu^crt 
w«>ro  nuoli  that  they  watts  faHt  increaoin^,  iuHtead  of  diniiniMh- 
in^,  lil<M  all  tlie  fiurro«tnding  tril)ert.  While  the  FloridaH  were 
in  posHCSfiion  of  Kpain,  tlie  OreeltM  wore  Hurrounded  hy  hclli^- 
erent  powers,  both  nntiv««  and  Kuropean,  and  they  apfivar  to 
have  adopted  a  very  shrewd  and  artful  poliey  in  their  inter- 
courRO  with  each.  There  wm  a  French  garrison  in  their 
country;  tho  EngliHh  HettletneittH  lay  to  the  north  and  cast,  and 
those  of  the  Spaniards  to  the  south  ;^  and  the  old  sages  of  tho 
tribe  being  long  informed  by  the  opposite  parties  of  tho  dift'er- 
ent  views  and  intrFgues  of  those  foreign  ])owor8,  who  pai<l 
them  annual  tribute  under  the  vaguo  appellation  of  presents, 
were  be<'ome  surprisingly  cratly  in  every  turn  of  low  politics. 
Tho  French  were  very  succes^iful  in  their  efforts  to  conciliate 
tho  good-will  of  the  Muscogeos,  and  in  alienating  them  from 
the  English.  The  country  of  the  Choctaws  extended  from  that 
of  the  Muscogees  to  tho  Mississippi,  reaching  northward  to 
tho  boundaries  of  tho  (/hickasaws;  tho  lower  towns  on  tho 
rivor  were  about  two  hundred  miles  north  of  Now  Orleans. 
Adair  gives  these  j)eopIe  a  very  bad  character,  as  being  treach- 
erous, dishonest,  ungrateful  and  nnscrupidous;  but  ho  bears 
witness  to  their  admirable  readiness  of  speech.  Thoy  vvoro 
'  ready-witted,  and  endued  with  a  surprising  How  of  smooth, 
artful  language  on  every  subject  within  tho  reach  of  their 
ideas.'  The  strange  custom  of  flattening  the  head,  ])revalent 
among  some  other  American  tribes,  obtained  with  the  (Ihoc- 
taws.  The  operation  was  performed  by  the  weight  of  a  bag  of 
sand  kept  upon  the  foreheads  of  the  infants  before  the  skull 
had  hardened.  This  process  not  improl)ably  affected  the  powers 
of  the  mind;  at  all  oventrf,  Adair  says:  'Their  features  and 
mind  exactly  correspond  together;  tor,  except  the  intense  love 

♦  Brownell's  Nurratlve. 


588 


THE   SOUTH KKN   INDIANS: 


tliey  bear  to  their  native  country,  and  their  utter  contempt  of 
any  kind  of  danger  in  defense  of  it,  I  know  no  other  virtue 
they  are  possessed  of;  tlie  general  observation  of  the  traders 
among  them  is  just,  who  affirm  them  to  bo  divested  of  every 
property  of  a  human  being,  except  shape  and  language.'  The 
French  had  acquired  great  influence  over  the  Choctaws,  as, 
indeed,  over  nearly  every  tribe  in  North  America  with  wliom 
they  had  maintained  friendly  intercourse.  Adair  enlarges  upon 
tlie  artful  policy  with  which  they  conciliated  and  bribed  the 
leaders  and  orators  of  the  nation.  Besides  this,  he  says:  Uhe 
masterly  skill  of  the  French  enabled  them  to  do  more  with 
those  savages,  with  trifles,  than  all  our  experienced  managers 
of  Indian  affairs  have  been  able  to  effect  by  the  great  quanti- 
ties of  valuable  goods  they  gave  them  with  a  very  profuse 
hand.  The  former  bestowed  their  small  favors  with  exquisite 
wisdom;  and  their  value  was  exceedingly  enhanced  by  the 
external  kindly  behavior  and  well-adapted  smooth  address  of 
the  giver.'  The  nation  of  the  Chickasaws,  at  the  time  of  which 
we  are  speaking,  was  settled  near  the  sources  of  the  Tombigbee, 
a  few  miles  eastward  of  the  head  waters  of  the  Tallahache. 
They  numbered  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  warriors,  but  were 
greatly  reduced  since  their  ancient  emigration  from  the  West. 
They  were  said  to  have  formerly  constituted  one  family  with 
the  Choctaws,  and  to  have  been  able  to  bring  one  thousand  men 
into  the  field  at  the  time  of  their  removal.  Due  allowance 
must  of  course  be  made  for  mistake  and  exaggeration  in  these 
early  traditions.  The  Chickasaws  were  ever  inimical  to  the 
French  and  friendly  to  the  English  colonists.  It  was  by  their 
efforts  that  the  neighboring  tribe  of  the  Natchez  was  stirred 
up  to  attack  the  French  settlements,  in  1729.  The  French  had, 
unadvisedly,  imposed  a  species  of  tax  upon  the  Natchez, 
demanding  a  dressed  bick-skin  from  each  man  of  the  tribe, 
without  rendering  any  return;  but,  as  some  of  that  people 
afterwards  reported  to  Adair,  '  the  warrior's  hearts  grew  very 
cross,  and  loved  the  deer-skins.'  The  Chickasaws  were  not 
slow  to  foment  a  disturbance  upon  intelligence  of  this  proceed- 
ing, and  sent  messengers,  with  presents  of  pipes  and  tobacco, 
to  counsel  an  attack  upon  the  exercisers  of   such   tyranny. 


OR,   THE   nORDKR   WARS  OF   TWO   CENTURIES. 


589 


Kothing  BO  strongly  excites  an  Indian's  indignation  as  any 
attempt  at  taxation,  and  the  Natchez  were  easily  })er8uaded 
that  the  French  had  resolved  to  crush  and  enslave  them.  It 
took  about  a  year  to  ripen  the  plot,  as  the  Indians  are  '  slow  in 
their  councils  on  things  of  great  importance,  though  equally 
close  and  intent.'  It  was  in  the  month  of  November  (1729,) 
that  the  Indians  toll  upon  the  French  settlement.  The  com- 
mandant had  received  some  intimation  of  the  intended  attack 
from  a  woman  of  the  tribe,  but  did  not  place  sufficient  depend- 
ence upon  it  to  take  any  efficient  steps  for  the  protection  of  his 
charge.  The  whole  colony  was  massacred;  men,  women  and 
children,  to  the  number  of  over  seven  hundred — Adair  says 
fifteen  hundred — perished  by  the  weapons  of  the  savages.  The 
triumph  of  the  Natchez  was,  however,  but  of  short  duration. 
The  French  came  upon  them  in  the  following  summer  with  a 
large  army,  consisting  of  two  thousand  of  their  own  soldiers 
and  a  great  array  of  their  Choctaw  allies.  The  Natchez  were 
posted  at  a  strong  fort  near  a  lake  communicating  with  the 
Bayou  D'Argent,  and  received  the  assailants  with  great  resolu- 
tion and  courage.  They  made  a  vigorous  sally,  as  the  enemy 
approached,  but  were  driven  within  their  defenses,  and  bom- 
barded with  three  mortars,  which  forced  them  to  flv  oflf  difterent 
ways.  The  Choctaws  took  many  prisoners,  some  of  whom 
were  tortured  to  death,  and  the  rest  shipped  to  the  West  Indies 
as  slaves." 

The  Natchez  survivors  fled  for  safety  to  the  Chickasaws, 
which  resulted  in  a  war  between  the  French  and  that  tribe,  in 
which  the  Indians  were  the  conquerors.  In  one  engagement, 
says  Adair,  the  French  and  their  Indian  allies  had  surrounded 
the  Chickasaw  settlements  in  the  night,  with  the  exception  of 
one  which  stood  at  some  distance  from  the  rest,  called  Ama- 
lahta.  The  besiegers  beset  every  house,  and  killed  all  who 
came  out;  but  at  the  dawn  of  day,  when  they  were  capering 
and  using  those  flourishes  that  are  peculiar  to  that  volatile 
nation,  the  other  town  drew  round  them,  stark  naked,  and 
painted  all  over  red  and  black;  thus  they  attacked  them,  killed 
numbers  on  the  spot,  released  their  brethren,  who  joined  them 
like  enraged  lions.    The  Indians  belonging  to  the  French  party 


690 


THE   80UTIIEKN    INDIANS: 


fled,  but  the  whites  were  all  killed  except  two,  an  i)fflccr,  and 
a  negro,  who  faithfully  held  his  horse  till  he  mounted,  and  then 
ran  along  side  of  liini.  A  couple  of  swift  riinners  were  sent 
after  them,  who  soon  came  up  with  them,  and  told  them  to 
live  and  go  home,  and  inform  their  people,  that  as  the  Chicka- 
saw hogs  had  now  a  plenty  of  ugly  French  carcasses  to  feed 
on  till  next  year,  they  hoped  then  to  have  another  visit  from 
them  and  their  red  friends;  and  that,  as  messengers,  they 
wished  them  safe  home. 

In  1733  when  James  Edward  Oglethorpe  commenced  the 
settlement  of  Georgia,  the  Creeks  laid  claim  to  the  whole  ter- 
ritory southwest  of  the  Savannah.  Hoping  to  avoid  a  war 
with  these  Indians  he  employed  a  half-breed  woman  named 
Mary  Musgrove,  who  could  speak  English,  and  by  her  influence 
ejffected  a  conference  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Savannah  Indians. 
Tliis  Mary  had  formerly  married  a  white  trader  from  Caro- 
lina. She  had  great  influence  over  her  tribe,  and  afterwards 
became  a  source  of  danger  and  annoyance  to  the  English. 

At  the  council  which  was  held  at  the  infant  settlement  of 
Savannah  in  1733,  were  fifty  celebrated  Creek  chiefs,  who  were 
presided  over  by  their  King,  Tomochichi.  The  latter  made  an 
eloquent  speech.  "A  treaty,"  says  Mr.  Brownell,  "  was  con- 
cluded, subject  to  the  ratification  of  the  English  crown,  by 
which  the  Indians  were  to  consider  themselves  the  subjects  of 
tne  king,  and  to  live  in  peace  and  friendship  with  his  white 
colonists.  The  lands  lying  between  the  Savannah  and  Alta- 
maha,  were  made  over  to  the  English,  with  all  the  islands  on 
that  coast,  except  St.  Catharine's  and  two  others,  which  were 
reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Indians  as  bathing  and  fishing  sta- 
tions. A  tract  was  also  set  apart  for  them  to  encamp  upon 
when  they  visited  their  white  friends,  a  little  above  the  Yama- 
craw  bluff,  where  Savannah  now  stands."  /^ 

In  1734  Mr.  Oglethorpe  visited  England,  taking  with  him 
Chief  Tomochichi,  his  Queen,  and  several  other  Indians. 
They  were  presented  to  the  king,  "  and  every  pains  was  taken 
to  produce  a  strong  impression  upon  their  minds  of  the  Eng- 
lish power  and  magnificence." 

Mr.  Brownell,  in  his  book,  gives  the  following  curious 


OR,    TlIK    noKDEK    WARS    OF    TWO   0KNTURIE8. 


691 


account:  "The  year  1749  was  memorable  for  a  most  audacious 
attempt  on  the  part  of  oneThonias  Bosomworth  to  aggrandize 
himself  by  attaining  a  supremacy  over  the  Creeks.  He  had 
been  formerly  a  chaplain  in  Oglethorpe's  regiment,  and  had 
married  Mary  Musgrove,  his  half-breed  interpreter.  In 
December,  1747,  this  man  fell  in  with  a  company  of  chiefs, 
belonging  to  the  nation,  then  on  a  visit  to  Frederica;  and  per- 
suaded them  to  sign  certain  articles,  acknowledging  one  of 
their  number,  named  Malatche  Opiya  Meco,  as  righftul  king 
over  the  whole  Creek  nation.  Bosomworth  then  procured 
from  Malatche  a  conveyance,  for  certain  considerations — among 
other  things,  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition  and  clothing — 
of  tlio  islands  formerly  reserved  by  the  Indians,  to  himself  and 
his  wife  Mary,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  '  as  long  as  the  sun  shall 
shine,  or  the  waters  run  in  the  rivers,  forever.'  This  deed  was 
regularly  witnessed,  proved  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
recorded  in  due  form.  Bosomworth  made  someeftbrts  to  stock 
and  improve  these  islands,  but,  his  ambition  becoming  aroused 
by  success  in  his  first  intrigue,  he  entered  upon  one  much  more 
extensive.  By  his  persuasions,  his  wife  now  made  the  extra- 
ordinary claim  that  she  was  Malatv^ie's  elder  sister,  and  enti- 
tled to  regal  authority  over  the  whole  Creek  territory.  A 
great  meeting  of  the  tribe  was  procured,  and,  whatever  of 
truth  Mary's  claims  might  be  founded  upon,  she  appears  to 
have  succeeded  in  persuading  large  numbers  of  the  Creeks  to 
espouse  her  cause,  and  acknowledge  her  as  an  independent 
queen.  Accompanied  by  a  strong  force  of  her  adherents,  she 
proceeded  incontinently  to  Savannah,  sending  emissaries  before 
ner  to  demand  a  surrender  of  all  lands  south  of  the  Savannah 
river,  and  to  make  known  her  intention  of  enforcing  her  claim 
3y  the  entire  destruction  of  the  colony,  should  her  demands 
be  resisted.  The  militia  were  called  out  by  the  president 
and  council,  and  the  Indians  were  kept  quiet  by  a  display  of  ■ 
confidence  and  firmness,  that  matters  might  be  fully  discussed 
by  their  leaders  and  the  colonial  authorities.  'Bosomworth,' 
says  McCall,  '  in  his  canonical  robes,  with  his  queen  by  his 
side,  followed  by  the  kings  and  chiefs,  according  to  rank^ 
marched  into  town  on  the  20th  of  July,  making  a  most  for- 


592 


THE    80UTIIKRN    INDIANS: 


midtible  appearance.     Tlio  !ii habitants  were  struck  with  terror 
at  the  sight  of  this  ferocious  tribe  of  savages.'     Lengtliy  dis- 
cussions ensued,  between  Bosomworth  and  Mary  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  president  and  council  on  the  other.     The  fickle 
and  impressible  savages  leaned  alternately  to  either  opinion 
according  as  they  were  harangued  by  their  new  leaders,  or  lint- 
ened  to  the  explanations  of  the  other  party.     They  were  told 
that  Mary's  claims  to  royal  descent  were  entirely  false;  that 
she  was  the  daughter  of  a  white  man  by  a  squaw  of  no  note, 
and  that  the  mad  ambition  of  her  reprobate  husband  had  led 
to  the  whole  movement.    They  expressed  themselves  convinced, 
but  no  sooner  had  IVIary  obtained  another  o])portunity  to  com- 
municate with  them,  than  she  succeeded   in  intlaming   and 
bewildering  their  minds.     It  was  found  necessary  to  confine 
her  and  her  husband  before  the  savages  could  be  quietly  dis- 
persed.    Before  this  was  accomplished,  the   town  was  in  a 
situation  of  the  most  imminent  danger,  as  the  Indians  vastly 
outnumbered  the  whites;  and  a  very  slight  matter  might  have 
80  roused  their  fury  that  the  whole  colony  woul*'  have  been 
annihilated.     The  intriguing  chaplain  had  a  brother,  Adam 
Bosomworth,  agent  for  Indian  affairs  in  Carolina,  who  after- 
wards espoused  his  interests,  so  far  as  the  claim  to  the  islands 
of  St.  Catharine,  Ossabaw,  and  Sapelo  was  concerned.     This 
coadjutor  visited  the  Creek  nation,  procured  a  new  conveyance, 
and  prosecuted  the  claim  before  the  courts  of  Great  Britain. 
The  case  proved  almost  as  tedious  and  complex  as  that  of  the 
celebrated  Mohegan  land  question  in  Connecticut.     Bosom- 
worth and  his  wife  obtained  a  decision  in  their  favor,  in  1750, 
by  virtue  of  which  they  took  possession  of  St.  Catharine's 
island,  and  resided  upon  it  the  remainder  of  their  lives.     Ossa- 
baw  and  Sapelo  were  decreed  to  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the 
successful  parties,  but  further  litigation  arose  from  the  claims 
'  of  one  Isaac  Levy,  to  whom  they  had  sold,  us  was  asserted,  a 
moiety  of  that  portion  of  the  grant." 

In  the  early  border  wars  between  the  settlers  of  AVest  Vir- 
ginia and  the  Delaware  Indians,  the  Southern  Indians  were 
engaged  on  the  side  of  the  English,  and  upon  the  evacuation 
of  Fort  Duquesne,  numbers  of  these  warriors,  whose  services 


Olt,    THK    liOKDKK    \VAK8   OF   TWO    OKNTllRim. 


M 


were  no  longer  required,  set  out  upon  their  return  home.    As 
they  wore  passing  through  Virginia,  they  jHissesHed  themselves 
of  Buch  horses  as  they  found  grazing  in  the  woods.     For  this 
act  the  German  settlers  fell  upon  them,  and  murdered  and 
scalped  a  considerable  number.     These  outrages,  and  tlie  influ- 
enco  of  the  French,  com'oined  to  stir  up  a  war,  and  the  Cherokees 
determined  upon  immediate  retaliation  for  tlie  massacres  by 
the  Germans.     A  party,  bound  on  this  errand,  after  killing  tM'o 
soldiers  near  Fort  Loudon,  spread  themselves  among  the  west- 
ern settlements  of  North  Carolina,  killing  such  of  the  whites 
as  fell  in  their  power.     "  It  was  their  first  intention,"  says  Mr. 
Brownell,  "  to  take  scalps  only  equal  in  number  to  that  of  their 
murdered  kinsmen,  but,  once  having  their  hand  in,  they  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  of  going  much  farther."    The  same 
author  further  informs  us  that  "  William  H.  Lyttleton,  Gover- 
nor of  Soutli  Carolina,  set  himself  strenuously  both  to  prepare 
for  the  defense  of  the  colonies,  and  to  bring  about  an  adjust- 
ment of  difficulties.     At  Fort  St.  George,  on  the  Savannah,  he 
held  a  conference  with  six  Cherokee  chiefs,  on  the  twenty-sixth 
of  December  (1759),  and  foi'uied  a  treaty  of  peace,  secured  by 
the  delivery  of  thirty-two  Indian  hostages.     These  were  placed 
in  close  confinement  in  a  small  and  miserable  hut,  and  the 
governor  returned  to  Charleston.     According  to  the   usual 
course  of  events,  the  Cherokees  denied  the  authority  of  the 
chiefs  who  had  concluded  the  above  treaty,  and  hostilities  broke 
out  afresh.    The  two  most  celebrated  chiefs  and  leaders  among 
them,  at  this  time,  were  old  AttakuUakulla,  a  promoter  of  peace, 
and  long  the  fast  friend  of  the  English,  and  Occonostota,  a 
noted  war-chief.      Capt.  Coytmore,  commandant  at  Fort  St. 
George,  was  an  object  of  the  bitterest  hatred  on  the  part  of 
the  Indians,  and  a  large  body  of  them,  led  by  Occonostota, 
besieged  the  fort  in  February  of  1760.*    The  place  was  too 
strong  to  be  taken  by  assault,  but  the  Indian  chief  managed  to 
entice  Coytmore  out  of  tlie  defenses  into  an  ambush,  where  he 
was  shot  dead,  and  Lieuts.  Bell  and  Foster,  who  accompanied 
him,  were  wounded.    The  hostages  who  were  confined  within 
the  works,  shouted  to  encourage  their  friends  without,  and 
*  Brownell's  Narrative. 
'  38        .  ' 


604 


TlIE   80UTIIRRN    INDIANH: 


when  an  attempt  was  made  to  put  them  in  irons,  resistocl  man* 
fully,  stabbing  one  soldier,  and  wounding  two  others.  Upon 
this,  a  hole  was  cut  in  the  roof  over  their  heads,  and  the  cow- 
ardly garrison  butchered  them  by  shooting  down  from  above. 
Tliis  war  now  commenced  in  earnest,  and  Indian  ravages 
extended  far  and  wide  upon  the  frontier.  Troops  were  ordered 
from  New  York  by  Gen.  Amherst,  comnumder-in-chief  of  the 
IJritish  forces  in  America;  and  the  neighboring  colonies  appro- 
priated  liberal  sums  for  the  purjwse  of  buying  the  aid  of  the 
Creeks,  Chickasaws  and  Catawbas.  Col.  Montgomery  reached 
Carolina  in  April  (17C0),  and  hastened,  in  command  of  the 
regulars  and  ])rovincial8,  to  make  an  effective  inroad  upon  the 
hostile  Indians.  His  progress  through  the  lower  Cherokee 
country  was  nmrked  by  the  entire  destruction  of  the  Indian 
to^^^ls.  The  first  place  attacked,  called  Keowee,  was  sur- 
n>unded,  and  the  men  of  the  town  were  put  to  the  sword. 
Estatoe,  containing  two  hundred  houses,  with  great  quantifies 
of  provisions,  was  entirely  destroyed;  but  the  inhabiumts 
were  saved  by  a  timely  flight.  '  Every  other  settlement  east  of 
the  Blue  Uidge,'  says  McCall,  'afterwards  shared  the  same 
fate.'  The  army  made  some  stay  at  Fort  Prince  George,  and 
useless  endeavors  were  put  forth  to  bring  about  a  pacification 
with  the  upper  portion  of  the  Cherokees.  In  the  month  of 
June  the  troops  were  again  on  their  advance  into  the  wilder- 
ness  of  the  interior.  Near  tl)e  Indian  town  of  Etchoe,  the 
native  warriors  prepared  a  most  skillful  ambuscade  to  check 
the  advancing  forces.  It  was  in  a  deep  valley,  through  which 
ran  a  muddy  stream,  with  steep  banks;  on  either  side  of  which 
the  way  was  completely  choked  with  tangled  brushwood. 
Some  hard  fighting  took  place  at  this  spot,  in  which  twenty  of 
the  whites  were  killed  and  seventy-six  wounded.  The  loss  on 
the  side  of  the  Indians  was  much  less,  and,  although  driven 
from  the  spot  w'here  the  first  stand  was  made,  they  intrenched 
themselves  a  little  farther  on.  Under  these  circumstances, 
Montgomery  determined  to  secure  the  safety  of  his  troo^js,  and 
to  provide  for  the  requisite  attention  to  his  wounded  men,  by 
a  retreat.  He  soon  after  sailed  for  New  York,  leaving  four 
companies  of  regulars,  under  Major  Hamilton,  for  the  protec- 


OK,   TIIK    FUtRDKR    WAFtH   OK    TWO    OKNTUKIKH. 


695 


tion  of  tlie  frontier.  The  gnrriHon  at  tlio  iHolated  Fort  lx>iidon 
was  now  in  a  Htate  of  inwnincnt  peril.  Tiio  proviHiotm  of  tho 
place  were  nearly  exliansted,  and  the  redoiihtable  OwionoHtotii 
watj  laying  close  hiege  to  it  with  IiIh  fierce  and  enraged  warriors. 
After  suftering  great  extremes  of  privation,  and  experiencing 
disappointment  in  all  their  hopes  of  relief,  the  two  hundred 
men  stationed  at  this  place  were  obliged  to  capitulate,  and  trust 
to  the  honor  of  their  savage  enemy.  Capt.  Steuart,  an  officer 
greatly  in  favor  with  all  the  friendly  [ndians,  arranged  tho 
terms  upon  which  tho  fort  shouUl  be  evaciuited.  The  troops 
were  to  be  allowed  a  free  and  unmolested  passage  to  Virginia, 
or  Fort  Prince  George,  and  a  detachment  of  Indians  was  to 
accompany  them  for  tho  purpose  of  supplying  provisions  by 
hunting.  The  garrison  marched  out  on  the  seventh  of  August 
(1760.)  Occonostota  himself,  with  a  number  of  other  natives, 
kept  company  with  the  whites,  during  the  first  day's  march  of 
fifteen  miles;  but  these  all  disappeared  when  they  reached  the 
place  of  encampment,  near  an  Indian  town  called  Taliquo.  On 
the  next  morning,  just  before  day  (the  time  generally  selected 
by  Indians  for  a  surprise,  as  men  sleep  more  soundly  then  than 
at  any  other  hour,)  a  large  body  of  armed  savages,  in  war- 
paint, were  seen  by  a  sentinel,  creeping  through  the  bushes 
and  gathering  about  the  camp.  Hardly  was  the  alarm  given 
when  the  attack  was  made;  twenty-six  of  the  feeble  and  half- 
starved  soldiers  were  killed  outright,  and  the  rest  were  pinioned 
and  marched  back  to  the  fort.*  Capt.  Steuart  was  among  the 
prisoners,  but  his  evil  fortune  was  alleviated  by  the  stiiunch 
friendship  of  the  benevolent  AtakullakuUa.  This  chief,  as  soon 
as  he  heard  of  Steuart's  situation,  hastened  to  Fort  Ix)udon, 
aiid  purchased  him  of  the  Indian  who  took  him,  giving  him 
liis  rifle,  clothes  and  all  that  lie  could  command  by  way  of  ran- 
som; he  then  took  possession  of  Capt.  Demere's  house,  where 
he  kept  his  prisoner  as  one  of  his  family,  and  humanely  shared 
with  him  the  little  provisions  his  table  afforded,  until  an  oppor- 
tunity should  offer  of  rescuing  him.  A  quantity  of  ammuni- 
tion was  discovered  by  the  Indians,  buried  in  the  fort,  and 
Occonostota  determined  to  proceed  at  once  to  lay  siege  to  Fort 

*  Browucll's  Niirnitive. 


m 


TIIK   HDUTIIKKN    INDIANH: 


TVinee  Goor^.  (yapt.  Stuiiart  was  intbrniod  that  tlio  asriist- 
anue  of  hiinsolf  and  his  inon  would  bo  roqiiirud  in  tiie 
niatiageiiibnt  of  thu  gruat  guns,  and  that,  fiirthurinoru,  if  the 
garrison  Hhoiild  rofuso  to  ca)>itulatc,  all  the  ]>ritionerii  now  in 
the  liands  of  the  Indians  should,  one  by  one,  be  burned  ia 
sight  of  the  fort.  Perceiving  the  difficulty  of  his  situation, 
the  captain  begged  his  kind  old  proprietor  to  assist  him  in 
effecting  an  escape,  and  Attakulhiknlla  readily  lent  his  aid. 
Upon  pretense  of  taking  his  prisoner  out  for  a  hunt,  he  left 
Fort  Loudon,  with  his  wife  and  brother,  and  two  Englinh  sol- 
diers, and  took  a  direct  course  for  the  Virginia  frontier.  AtYer 
a  most  toilsome  and  dangerous  march,  they  fell  in  with  a  party 
of  three  hundred  men,  sent  out  for  the  relief  of  such  of  the 
garrison  at  Fort  Loudon  as  might  have  effected  their  esca])e. 
Being  now  in  safety,  Capt.  Steuart  dismissed  his  Indian  friends 
with  Iiandsome  rewards,  to  return  and  attend  to  the  welfare  of 
his  former  fellow-prisoners.  Such  of  them  as  had  survived 
were  afterwards  ransomed  and  delivered  up  at  Fort  Prince 
George." 

In  1762  a  general  agent  and  superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs  at  the  South  was  ap])ointed  in  the  person  of  Captain 
John  Steuart.  Upon  entering  on  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  liis  office  Capt.  Steuart  assembled  the  chiefs  of  all  the 
Southern  tribes  in  council  and  ex})lained  to  them  how  the 
French  had  been  conquered,  and  that  thenceforth  they  could 
look  only  to  the  British  for  support  and  j)rotection.  He  com- 
mended those  tribes  who  had  fought  in  the  English  cause  and 
excused  those  who  had  allied  themselves  to  the  French.  The 
Southern  Indians  remained  quiet  from  that  time  until  1811, 
when  the  great  Shawanoe  Chief,  Tecumseh  *  "in  pursuance 
of  his  bold  and  extensive  plans  for  a  universal  association  of 
the  Indians  against  the  whites,  made  a  tour  among  the  south- 
ern tribes.  His  eloquent  appeals,  anc.  the  overpowering 
energy  which  distinguished  this  truly  great  man,  jiroved  suc- 
cessful in  the  winning  over  to  his  views  of  no  small  number 
of  the  Indian  warriors,  even  among  those  who  had  long  main- 
tained a  friendly  intercourse  with  the  Americans  and  the  gov- 

♦  Browne!  I'g  narrative. 


OK,   THR    RORDKR    WARH   OF   TWO   C'KNTIIKIW. 


507 


emmont  of  the  United  States.  At  the  time  of  the  deelnrntion 
of  wnr  with  Knghuid,  (June  18th,  1812,)  the  whole  wuHtern 
b<»rdcr  of  the  Uir'tcd  States  was  in  a  position  of  the  greatest 
(hinger  and  insecurity.  Tlie  nuichinations  of  Tecuniseh  and 
the  Prophet  had  rouned  an  extensive  flarne  of  vindictive 
ferocity  throughout  the  Indian  nations,  while  British  agents, 
it  is  naid,  were  widely  dispersed,  and,  by  munificent  promises 
and  artful  persuasions,  had  still  farther  widened  the  breach 
between  the  navageH  and  tlieir  white  countrymen.  Frightful 
scenes  of  depre<lation  and  murder  called  for  a  prompt  and 
dec'i«ive  chock.  Many  minor  forays  are  recorded,  but  the 
destruction  of  Fort  Mimtns  in  the  Tensau  settlement  of  Mis- 
slHsippI,  in  the  summer  of  the  year  following,  may  be  con- 
sidered the  first  important  part  ttiken  by  the  southern  triboB 
in  the  wars  of  this  [>eriod." 

1  shall  not,  however,  with  the  few  pages  that  are  now  left, 
undertake  to  give  a  complete  account  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
Southern  IndiauH  in  the  memorable  war  of  1812.  A  few  of 
the  principal  points  must  suffice. 

Tecumseh's  visit  to  his  southern  neighbors  was  not  in  vain. 
Under  his  forcible  teachings  a  confederacy  was  established  over 
which  the  celebrated  Weatherford  gained  nearly  as  much  dis- 
tinction as  did  the  renowned  Shawanoe  in  the  North.  Weath- 
erford was,  beyond  question,  *  '*  possessed  of  noble  and  com- 
manding qualities,  but  these  were  combined  with  cruelty, 
avarice,  and  degrading  vices.  A  party  of  about  one  thousand 
warriors,  led  by  this  popular  chief,  fell  upon  the  devoted  Fort 
Mimms,  on  the  30th  of  August,  1813.  The  post  was  garri- 
soned by  one  hundred  and  sixty  efficient  soldiers;  the  rest  of 
its  occupants,  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen,  con- 
sisted of  old  men,  women  and  children.  The  forces  were 
under  the  command  of  Major  Beasly.  No  regular  prepara- 
rations  had  been  made  for  the  reception  of  so  powerful  an 
enemy,  and  although  the  soldiers  did  their  duty  manfully,  they 
were  overpowered,  and  all  slain  except  seventeen.  The  women 
and  children  having  ensconced  themselves    in  several  block 

*  Brownell's  Narriitive.  ■  • 


508 


TMk   HOIITIIKKN    INDIANA*. 


houHUH,  met  with  h  more  torril>lo  t'uto.  Tli»)  Huviij^fWH  M)t  tiro  to 
tho  hiiildiiigi),  Hiid  uoiiBiiiiiud  tliuin,  tuguthor  with  thoii 
ininutofl." 

Tho  war  in  tlio  South  now  beoftiuo  gonoral  and  (i»>n.  .TiickHon 
took  tho  Hold  in  |)uri)on.  Col.  Oott'uo  invadod  tho  country  of 
tho  hoHtilu  IndiaiiH  and,  with  a  coiiHidorablu  force  oncounterod 
the  oneiny  at  TalluttHahatchee  Crook.  Tho  savagoM  touglit 
boldly  and  desperately,  but  wore  defeated  and  driven  into  their 
buildingH,  when  ono  hundred  and  eighty-Hix  uf  their  nuiiibor 
porished  in  the  struggle.  Eighty-four  women  and  children 
were  taken  }>riHonor8,  and  a  number  were  killed  during  tho 
content.  This  battle  took  place  in  November,  1813.  Soon 
after  Jackson's  army  encountered  tho  Indians  at  Talladega, 
where  after  a  most  bloody  contest,  throe  hundred  Indians  were 
letl  dead  upon  the  field.  Many  more  wore  killed  while  trying 
to  escape,  and  their  total  loss  was  nearly  six  hundred.  The 
Americans  lost  only  fifteen  killed  and  eighty  wounded. 

The  war  was  continued  until  all  the  liostile  nations  of  tlie 
South  were  subdued  and  until  the  confederacry  which  Tecum- 
seh  instigated  was  well  nigh  broken  up.  The  most  noted 
battles  fought  during  the  campaign  were  at  Autossco,  where 
gome  two  hundred  were  massacred,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of 
November,  and  that  of  the  Horse-shoe  Bend  in  tho  Talla- 
poosie.  At  this  latter  point  tho  Indians  fortified  tliomselvos 
for  a  last  desperate  battle.  Their  number  exceeded  ono  thou- 
Band.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of  March,  1814,  Gen.  Jackson, 
with  a  force  three  times  the  number  of  the  enemy,  commenced 
operations  against  their  fortification.  "  Gen.  Coffee,  with 
most  of  tho  cavalry  and  Indian  allies,  was  directed  to  sur< 
round  tho  bend,  in  order  to  cut  oflf  all  retreat  across  the  river. 
The  place  was  then  carried  by  storm,  under  a  heavy  fire  from 
within.  More  than  half  the  Indians  were  killed  at  the  fort, 
and  an  unknown  number  perished  in  their  endeavors  to  escape 
by  crossing  tho  river,  beset  as  it  was  by  the  assailants.  Some 
]»ave  asserted  that  probably  not  more  than  twenty  over  reached 
a  place  of  safety.  At  a  time  when  it  was  evident  that  the 
fortune  of  the  day  was  decided.  Gen.  Jackson  sent  a  messenger, 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  invite  a  surrender,  but,  from  ignorance 


OR,   TIIK    lloKPKIt    WARS  <»F   TWO   CKNTIKIM. 


009 


or  (luHporiitioii,  tin;  hhvii^uh  Hreil  upon  tliu  l)t>iirt'r  of  tliu  tlii^. 
AtYrr  tluH,  no  niurcy  wuh  hIiowii;  until  ni^lit  put  an  vnd  to  tliu 
Work  of  (It'Htruetion,  they  were  x\u>t  or  cut  down  wlu'rcver 
tlu*y  could  Im)  found,  and  cv(>n  on  the  following  inornin|i(,  a  <*on- 
Bidi'rahlo  nunilwr  M'orc  ferreted  out  froni  the  'caveM  and  rredn,' 
where  they  had  Hoiight  concualinent,  and  reniorrtely  put  to 
death.  Several  hundred  women  and  children  were  made  cap- 
tivert.  The  Iohb  of  the  attacking  army,  in  thiH  hattle,  was  fifty- 
five  killed,  and  one  hundreil  and  forty-six  wounded." 

On  the  following  April  the  surviving  trihes  Hued  for  peace, 
and  (ren.  Jackrion  Htipidated  that  lH>fore  their  proposaU  could 
he  entertained  their  celehrated  Chief  Weathersford  munt  l)e 
delivered  up  for  puniBhment.  On  hearing  tills  the  great  chief, 
seeing  tliat  his  cauHe  was  hopolens,  gave  himself  up  to  the 
American  commander.  Ho  said:  "  I  am  in  your  power.  Do 
with  me  as  you  please.  I  am  a  soldier.  T  have  done  the  whites 
all  the  liarm  I  could.  I  have  fought  them,  and  fought  them 
bravely.  If  I  had  an  army,  I  would  yet  fight.  I  would  con- 
tend to  the  last;  hut  I  have  done;  my  people  are  all  gone.  I 
can  only  weep  over  the  misfortunes  of  my  nation." 

He  was  told  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  depart  but  that  no 
mercy  would  be  shown  him  or  his  nation  until  they  should 
submit  to  whatever  terms  the  whites  should  see  fit  to  impose. 
To  this  he  replied,  "You  can  safely  address  me  in  such  terms 
now.  There  was  a  time  when  I  could  have  answered  you. 
There  was  a  time  when  I  had  a  choice.  I  have  none  now.  I 
have  not  even  a  hope.  I  could  once  animate  my  warriors  to 
battle,  but  I  cannot  animate  the  dead.  My  warriors  can  no 
longer  hear  my  voice.  Their  bones  are  at  Talladega,  Tallus- 
shatchee,  Emuckfaw,  and  Tohopeka.  *  *  *  *  You  are  a 
brave  man.  I  rely  upon  your  generosity.  You  will  exact  no 
terms  of  a  conquered  people  but  such  as  they  should  accede 
to."  This  interesting  incident  closed  the  campaign.  The 
Indians  retired  to  the  reservations  assigned  to  tliem,  without  a 
murmur.  They  were  subsequently  removed  west  of  the 
Mississippi. 


THE   END. 


: 


CONTKNTS. 


CIIAI'TKU    I. 

PAUM. 

The  In«U»n  TrUM'n  of  \]w  Lt»k«'  It-nhm  —  (iiniTnl  ChiirncU'rlHtlM  — Tri- 
bal DIvtitlonM— M<hI('  ot'Diivcriiiiiciit —  Myllu  uiitl  L»'K«'mlH  — Tlit'ir 
KI<)(|U<>ti(<o  luul  Siijttiiilty— I)wcllln>{ii,  VIUhk^'*!  '""'  Fortu  — Tho 
Wmf  i'utli  — FvHtlvuU  uiiil  I'uNtiiiicM  — UcllglouH  Faith !> 

CIIAPTKH    n. 
Tl»e  RniclUh  hi  tho  Went— I*«)tUhu  StmHlliiK  In  tlictr  Way—  II<!  Con- 
■I'Dts  tn  let  llictu  occupy  hU  Country — Tliu  Kiiglish  tuku  Pomhi'mnIom 
of  Dcirolt n 

("IIAPTEK    III. 
The  WililernosH  and  ita  InhabltantH  at  the  CUmu  of  tliu  Frvncli  War — 
Travel  and  Advunturu  — Tho  OutpoHtH  of  Civilisation  — The  Ilixh- 
ways  of  the  WllderncMs Vf 

CHAPTER    IV. 
Tho  Indianti  Proparlnj?  for  War— Pontlac  and  his  AmbasBadorH— The 
Council  at  tho  Ulver  Ecorccit — Plan  for  the  Hoductlon  of  Dutrolt  — 
The  Conspiracy .' 83 

CHAPTER    V. 

AOllmpso  at  Fort  Detroit  in  17«3— The  Conspiracy— Tlie  Treacliei-y 
of  Pontlac  — His  Plot  Revealed  — The  Savages  Baffled  — Murder  of 
English  Settlers  —  The  Siege  Commencod  —  The  Assault  —  Oladwyn    • 
Offers  Peace  — Pontlac  Ret\ises — Departure  of  Major  Campbell  to 
the  Ottawa  Camp—  His  Warning 49 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Pontlac's  Treachery  —  Campbell  and  McDougal  made  Prisoners  — 
Scarcity  of  Provisions  In  the  Fort  — Perilous  Situation  of  the  Gar- 
rison-Continuation of  tlic  Siege  —  Pontlac  Summons  the  Garrison 
to  Surrender— Glttdwyn    Refuses  —  Complaints  of    the  French  — 

Pontlac's  Policy 50 

(800)  • 


(  (iNTKNTS. 


(101 


C'llAPTKK    VII 

Thr  BIpk"  *'>f  l>«'lrnlt~  VhU<  of  CuyliT'it  Ih'tucliiiirnt—  nriivrry  of  ih« 
Wyiiii(li>i»  —  Itiilliin  Ciiriiiiiiii  —  MuNMiu-nt  hikI  Murder  —  llurrlblii 
KhIh  of  tlu<  Wri«ii'rii  OiitpoNU  — Full  of  HiuxliiHky,  l'r»iM|iii»  U\v, 
etc.  — Tliu  Kori'Mt*  OrowiiiK  llluck  witli  Inclliut  WHrrli»fM M 

ciiAi'TKu  vni. 

n«nrriplli>ii  of  Port  Mlcliilliiiiicklniu!  — T:i«  ItuliniiN  In  llic  Vici- 
nity—I'ri'purulloiu  for  till'  Mn«i«H<'r«--Tlni  WiinilnK  — Ailvcntiirtm 
of  EnglUh  Trudi'ra  — Till)  NlRlit  llfforu  tho  HUuKlttur 07 

(;  II  APT  Kit     IX. 
Tlio  Mukhiuti'  — Till!  Onini!  of  Iliill  — HIiiiiKlitiT  of  tlir  OiirrlNon  —  Indl- 
nn«  Drinking  thu  Uluod  of  KnKlUli^ii'n  — llulrlirvudtli  ICiicik|U!  of  iin 
EnKlUh  TriMler 75 

CHAPTER    X. 

Advi'nturcN  of  EnKllHh  Trudum  at  MIrliilltnacklnitc  —  Tlicy  arc  Hen- 
cui'il  l)y  tlio  Oltiiwiw  —  TrcatniiMit  of  tho  PrUoricri*  —  lliriry'ii 
EHCiipit  — ('iinnllmllHtn  — Ueductlon  of  all  tlio  Wuntora  Outpoula 
cxct'pl  Detroit 81 

(MI  APT  Ell    XI. 

Contintiiitlon  of  the  HIi'ko  of  Detroit  —  AtlvcnturcH  of  ii  Schooner  on 
the  Detroit  Ulver — Defeat  of  the  IndliuiH — Pontine  AppeaU  to  thu 
French  for  AHslMtiinec— llorrlhle  Deiilh  of  C'apt.  Cuniphell  — The 
WyundotH  and  Pt)ttuwiitoinle»  8uh  for  Pence 88 

CIIAPTF,  U    XII. 
Approach  of  Dal/.eH'g   Delachmcnt— The   Battle  of  Hloody   Run  — 
Blaughter  of  the  EngllHli— The  Fatal  Retreat  — AdventureH  of  the 
Schooner  Qladwyn  —  Bravery  of  her  Crew — The  IndlanH  Hue  for 
Peace 04 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
Frontier  Settlements  and  Forts  —  Alarms  at  Fort  Pitt  — Slauphter  of 
Traders  — Narrow  Escape  of  a  Oarrlson  —  Destruction  of  Forts  — 
The  War  Racing  to  the  Highest  Pitch  —  Danger  Thickening  Around 
Fort  Pitt 108 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  War  on  the  Borders  — The  March  of  Death- The  Terrified 
Inhabitants  Fleeing  to  the  Older  Towns— Bouquet's  Army  at 
Carlisle  —  Adventures  of  Volunteers  —  Burning  Settlements- The 
Battle  of  Busily  Run-  -Distress  and  Danger  of  the  Troops- The 
Victory 118 


111 

! 


602 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XV. 
Disaster  nt  the  Devil's  Hole  — Fiite  of  Wliklns'  Detachment— The 
Frontiers  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  — Slaughter  of  the  Settle- 
ments— Terrible  Scenes  and  Incidents  of  Border  Warfare  —  Dcso- 
lation  — The  Defenses 128 

.    CHAPTER    XVI. 
The  Moravian  Missions — Their  Removal  —  Difflculties  in  Philadel- 
phia—  Advance    of   the    Paxton    Men  —  Great    Excitement  —  The 
Quakers  Volunteering  to  Enter  the  Army  — The  Difficulty  Settled..  120 

CHAPTER    XVII. 
Bradstrect's  Expedition  —  The  Council  at  Niagara  —  Peace  Treaties  — 
Bradstreet    at  Detroit  —  Council    with   the  Indians  —  Peace  Con- 
eluded  —  Canadians  Punished — Mlbhilimackinac  Garrisoned — Fate 
of  Capt.  Morris — Bradstreet  Returns 188 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 
Bouquet's  Army  in  the  Indian  Country  —  He  Subdues  the  Delawares 
and  Shawanoes  —  Scenes    at  the  English   Camp  —  Two  Hundred 
Prisoners  Given  up  — Return  of  the  Expedition 188 

CHAPTER    XIX. 
Groghan's  Expedition  —  Murder  of  Indians  —  Expedition  Against  the 
Indians  —  Battle  of  Point  Pleasant  —  Dunmore  Retires  from  the 
West — Fort  Erected  at  Boonsborough  —  Conspiracy  to  Unite  the 
Indians 147 

CHAPTER    XX. 
The  Conquest  of  Illinois  —  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark  —  His  Expe- 
dition against  the  Posts  in  Illinois  —  ABloodless  Conquest — Singu- 
lar Stratagem —  Colonel  Clark's  Speech  to  the  Indians  —  Interesting 
Incidents 157 

CHAPTER    XXI. 
Conquest  of  Illinois  Continued  —  Bravery  of  George  Rogers  Clark  — 
Re-taking  of  Post  Vincennes  by  Col.  Hamilton  —  Courage  of  Capt. 
Helm  —  Clark's   Expedition    against  Hamilton  —  Hamilton  taken 
Prisoner  —  Results  of  Clark's  Campaign 170 

CHAPTER    XXII. 
Borders  of  Kentucky  —  Boone's  Salt  Expedition  —  His  Capture  —  His 
Defense  of  Boonsborough  —  Invasion  of  the  Country  of  the  Six 
Nations  —  Indian  Troubles 180 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 
Expedition  Against    Moravian    Indians  —  The    Massacre  —  Terrible 
Fate  of  Colonel   Crawford  —  Attack  of  Bryant's  Station  —  Defeat 
of  the  Frontier  Men 186 


0ONTKNT8. 


608 


icnt— The 
tho  Settle- 
ro  —  Dcso< 


128 


Pliiliulel- 
lont  — The 
r  Settled..  120 


Treaties — 
euce  Con- 
ned— Fate 


188 


Delawares  \ 

Hundred 
188 


gainst  the 

from  the 

Unite  the 


147 


His  Expe- 

it— Singu- 
nteresting 


167 


•s  Clark  — 
e  of  Capt. 
ton   taken 


170 


ture  —  His 
»f  the  Six 


180 


—  Terrible 
11  —  Defeat 


186 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

The  Northwest  Territory  — Sketch  of  Arthur  St.  Clair  — Review  of  the 
Treaties  with  the  Indians— Indian  Speeches 194 

CHAPTER    XXV. 
The  English,  the  Indians,  and  the  Americans  —  Ilarmar's  Expedi- 
tion—  Harmar's  Defeat  —  Measures  for  Subduing  the   Indians  — 
Proctor's  Mission  a  Failure  —  Jealousy  of  the  English 204 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

Proctor's  Peace  Mission  —  Its  Failure  —  Orders  for  St.  Clair's  Cam- 
paign—St. Clair  Marches  into  tho  Indian  Country  —  His  Defeat  — 
Account  of  the  Disaster 218 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 
Results  of  St.  Clair's  Defeat  — The  Americans,  the  English,  and  the 
Indians  —  Brant  Invited   to  Philadelphia — Horrifying  Scenes  on 
St.  Clair's  Battle  Field— The  Peace  Makers— Their  Instructions  — 
Americans  Desire  Peace  —  The  Indians  for  War 225 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 
Pate  of  Mie  Peace-Makers — Great  Council  of  the  Maumee — Propo- 
sitions of  Peace  Rejected  by  the  Indians  —  Wayne  Marches  into 
the  Indian  Country  — The  Skulls  on  St.  Clair's  Battlefield  —  Fort 
Recovery  Established 281 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 
Gen.  Wayne's  Battle  on  the  Banks  of  the  Maumee  —  Position  of  the 
American  and  Indian  Forces  —  The  Victory  —  New  Forts  Erected — 
Destruction  of  Indian  Dwellings — ^The  Indians  Sue  for  Peace — The 
Treaty  of  Greenville 287 

CHAPTER    XXX. 
The  Indians  Cede  their  Lands — Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet — The 
New  Indian  Confederacy  —  Its  Objects  — Curious  Speech  of  the 
Prophet  — The   Approaching   War  —  The    Prophet    Declares    his 
Innocence 247 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 
Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet  Uniting  the  Savages  for  War  —  Trouble  in 
the  Council  at  Vincennes  —  Governor  Harrison  Denounces  Fecum- 
geh  and  Orders  him  to  Leave  the  Village— The  Battle  of  Tippe- 
canoe—  Harrison's  Victory 258 

CHAPTER    XXXII.                      ' 
Tecumseh '8  Anger  —  He  Joins  the  British  —  Hull's  Inglorious  Cam- 
paign—  Surrender  of  Detroit  —  Surrender  of  Mackinac — Triumph 
of  the  British — Hull's  Incapacity 960 


604 


CX>NTEN're. 


Ji 


1,  . 


'1 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 
Chicago  — Its  Early  Settlement  —  Its  Condition  In  1813— Order  for 
Evacuation  —  Council  with  the  Indians  —  Their  Proinittes  and  their 
Treachery  —  The  Massacre  —  Heroism  of  Women  —  Account  of  Mrs. 
Helm  and  Others— Thrilling  Incidents BOS' 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

Raising  an  Army  to  Conquer  the  English  in  the  Northwest  —  Early 
Settlements  in  Illinois  —  Expedition  under  Governor  Edwards  and 
Col.  Russell  —  Siege  of  Fort  Harrison — Capt.  Taylor's  Defense  — 
The  Army  under  Harrison,  Winchester  and  Tupper 279' 

CHAPTER    XXXV. 

The  War  of  1812 — Defeat  atFrenchtown  —  Qroghan's  Heroic  Defense 
of  Fort  Stephenson  —  Defeat  of  the  Americans  —  Preparations  for 
a  New  Campaign  —  Perry's  Victory  —  Harrison's  Triumph  —  The 
Indians  Subdued  — The  English  Defeated  — Close  of  the  War 284 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 
The  Life  and  Times  of  Black  Hawk  —  Black  Hawk  Distinguishes 
Himself  as  a  Warrior  —  Black  Hawk  Joins  the  British  —  The  Sacs 
Driven  Beyond  the  Mississippi  —  Black  Hawk  Remonstrates  — 
Description  of  the  Principal  Sac  Village  at  Rock  River 292 

CHAPTER    XXXVII. 
Difficulties  between  Black  Hawk  and  the  Settlers  at  Rock  River  —  A 
Military  Force  Called  out  to  Remove  the  Sac  Indians  West  of  the 
Mississippi  —  Sketch  of  Keokuk  —  His    Bravery,    Sagacity  and 
Eloquence 299 

CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 
Commencement  of  the  Black  Hawk  War — The  Sacs  Violate  their 
Treaty  — They  are  Ordered  to  Return  West  of  the  Mississippi  — 
They  Refuse  —  Pursued  by  American  Troops  —  Black  Hawk  and  his   ,/ 
Band  Victorious — Desolation  in  the  Border  Settlements  of  Illinois — 
Black  Hawk  Defeated — Starvation  among  the  Savages 305 

CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

Black  Hawk's  Defeat  —  He  and  His  Band  are  Driven  into  the  Missis-. 
sippi — Terrible  Indian  Slaughter  —  The  War  Ended  —  Black  Hawk 
Captured,  and  with  other  Chiefs  Confined  in  Irons — He  Visits 
Washington  and  the  Eastern  Cities  —  His  Reception 313 

.                        CHAPTER    XL. 
Ceremonies  of  Liberating  Black  Hawk  —  Keokuk's  Triumph  —  Black 
Hawk's  Anger  —  He  will  not  Conform  to  the  Councils  of  Keokuk  — 
His  Speech  —  He  Departs  to  his  Squaws  —  Interesting  Incidents  at 
Rock  Island 320 


6] 


OONTKM'8 


606 


irder  for 
ind  their 
t  of  Mrs. 


2(»y 


t  — Early 
ards  and 
)cfeii8e  — 


279 


J  Dct'cnse 
itlons  for 
ph  — The 
War 284 


linguishes 

The  Saca 

ustrates  — 


292 


River  — A 

Test  of  tlie 
acity  and 


299 


)late  their 

sissippi  — 

vk  and  his 

Illinois — 


805 


,he  Missis- 
ack  Hawk 
He  Visits 


813 


h  — Black 

[eokuk — 

Icidients  at 


CH  APT  Ell    XL  I. 

Indian  Tribes  West  of  the  MlHslsslppi— The  Mandans,  ♦.heir  Dwellings, 
Manners  and  Customs  — Their  Traditions  of  the  Flood  — Their 
Singular  Ceremonies  —  How  they  were  Destroyed — Their  Supposed 
Origin 880 

CHAPTER    XLII. 

Sketch  of  the  Sioux  Indians  —  How  they  Nursed  their  Infants  — 
Leaving  their  Old  and  Inflrm  to  Die  from  Starvation — The  Pecu- 
liarities of  the  Red -Pipe  Stone  Quarry  — Superstitions  of  the  Sioux 
Regarding  the  Pipe  Stcme- The  Buflalo  Hunt 888 

CHAPTER    XLIII. 
The  Crows  and  the  Blackfeet—Theip' Myths  and  their  Wars  — Char- 
acteristics of  these  Tribes  —  Interesting  Incidents 842 


The  Indian  Tribes 
wallas  —  The  ■ ' 
Canoes,  etc 


CHAPTER    XLIV. 
be  Par  West  — The  Pierced-Noses— The  Walla- 
Is  —  Peculiarities  of  this   Tribe  —  Their 


847 


CHAPTER    XLV. 
The  Shoshonees  —  The    Root-Diggers — Description    of  the    Snake 
Indians  —  The  Utahs  and  Apaches — The  Navajos  and  the  Moques. 


850 


820 


CHAPTER    XLVI. 
dol.  Fremont  and  Kit  Carson  —  Kit  Goes  as  Quide  with  Fremont's 
Expedition  — The  Buffalo  Hunt — Adventures  In  a  Prairie  Dog- 
Village —  Crossing  the  South  Fork  —  Immense  Buffalo  Herds 854 

CHAPTER    XLVII. 
Division  of  Fremont's  Party — Thrilling  Incidents  of  the  Journey  to 
Fort  Laramie  —  Description  of  Fort  Laramie — Frightful  Rumors 
of  Indian  Hostility  —  Fremont  Determines  to  Continue  —  Kit  Car- 
sou  Resolves  to  Follow  Him  —  Bravery  and  Cowardice 862 

CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
Journey  of  Fremont's  Expedition  from  Fort  Laramie  to  Fremont's 
Peak,  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  —  Hardships  of  Col.  Fremont — His 
Description  of  the  Wild  Scenery  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  —  Fre- 
mont Thirteen  Thousand  Feet  Above  the  Level  of  the  Sea — The 
Return 871 

CHAPTER    XLIX. 
Sketch  of  Kit  Carson  —  His  Early  Adventures  —  His  First  Visit  to  the 
Far  West  —  He  Distinguishes  Himself  as  a  Hunter,  Guide,  and 
Scout  —  His  Adventures  on  the  Sacramento  —  Mr.  Young's  Trap- 
ping Party 879 


'  » 


606  C«»NTKNT8. 

CHAPTER    L. 

Sketch    of   Kit   Cnrsnn  Continued  —  Description  of  tlio  Mountain 
Parlt8  —  Pursuing  Horse  Tliievcs  —  Nino    Hunters    Defeat    Fifty 


Indian  Warriors— Kit  Carson  Wounded— Tlie  Duel 


88S 


CHAPTER    LI. 

Bltctcli  of  Kit  Carson  Continued  —  His  Adven'.ures  —  He  Again  Joins 
Fremonl's  Expedition  —  Description  of  Fremont's  Second  Expedi- 
tion—  Its  Adventures 891 

CHAPTER    LII. 
Adventures  of  Fremont's  Second  Expedition  Concluded —  Kit  Carson 
in  New  Mexico  —  Description  of  Taos  and  tlie  Settlements  of  New 
Mexico —  Interesting  Incidents  of  Smuggling  —  The  Fandango 408 

CHAPTER    LIII. 

Col.  Fremont's  Tliird  Expedition— Peculiar  Qualities  of  Kit  Carson- 
Fremont  Attacked  by  the  Mexicans  —  Fremont  Visits  Klamath  Lalio 
and  the  Lava  Beds  — Three  of  his  Party  Killed  — The  Revenge 416 

CHAPTER    LIV. 
Fremont  as  a  Conqueror  —  Tlic  War  in  Northern  California  —  Heroisn 
of  the  Mountaineers  —  Indian  Ilostllitios  —  Fremont  and  his  Fol- 
lowers  Conquer  Northern  California — His  Triumphal  Entry  in t") 
Montery  —  California  Saved  from  the  English 420 

CHAPTER    LV. 
Insurrection  in  Southern  California  —  Fremont  Subdues  the  Wiilla- 
wailas- The  War  in  Southern  California  —  Description  of  Soutlicrn 
Californ ia  —  Pico  Defeated  —  The  Peace 426 

CHAPTER    LVI. 

Gen.  Kearney  and  Col.  Doniphan  —  The  Conquest  of  New  Mexico  — 
Battle  of  the  Sacramento  —  Chihuahua  Taken  —  Glorious  Victory 
of  the  Missourians  —  Triumplial  Entry  into  tlie  Ancient  Capital.      432 

CHAPTER    LVII. 
War  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  —  Gen.  Taylor  Proceeds 
to  Point  Isabel  with  an  Army  —  He  is  Ordered  to  Leave  the  Country 
—  He  Refuses — His  Danger  at  {he  River  Fort — Tlie  Battle  of  Palo 
Alto 489 

CHAPTER    LVIII. 

The  Battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma  —  A  Desperate  Struggle  —  Bravery 
of  the  Mexicans — The  Dead  and  Dying  —  Gen.  Taylor's  Victory  — 
Matamoras  Taken  —  Gen.  Taylor's  Difficulties  —  The  Siege  of 
Monterey  —  The  Victory 446 


CONTKNT8. 


607 


fountain 

at   Fifty 


88S 


iiln  Joins 
lI  ExpciU- 


801 


Clt  Ciiraon 
,t8  of  New 
ilivngo 408 


it  Carson— 
iiuath  Lake 
.evengc 416 


.  —  Herolsn 
(I  his  Fol- 
Entry  int-) 


420 


(ho  Walla- 
of  Southern 


426 


w  Mexico  — 
OU8  Victory 
t  Capital.      432 


^or  Proceeds 
[the  Country 
ittle  of  Palo 


439 


L_  Bravery 
I's  Victory  — 
le    Siege    of 


ClIAPTEU    LIX. 
Gen.  Taylor  at  Monterey  —  Saltlllo  Taken  —  Gen.  Santa  Anna  — 
Victoria  Taken  — Scott  Supercedes  Taylor  —  The  Battle  of  Buena 


VUU. 


4G6 


446 


ClIAPTEU    LX. 
Gen.  Scott's  Campaign  — The  Slego  of  Vera  Cruz  — Victory  of  Cerro 
Gordo  —  Capture  of  Puebla  —  Advance  on  Mexico —  Battle  of  the 
Contieras  — The  Victory  —  Other  Battles — Battle  of  Churuhusco  — 
Tlie  Armistice.... 477 

CHAPTER    LXI. 

Termination  of  tlie  Armistice— The  Battle  of  Molinos  del  Bey  — The 
Siege  of  the  Capital  — The  City  of  Mexico  Occupied — The  Araer. 
lean  Flag  Floating  from  the  Mexican  National  Palace 492 

CHAPTER    LXII. 

Wars  with  the  Indians  in  New  Mexico — The  Massacre  of  the  White 
Family  —  Brutality  of  tlio  Apaches  —  The  Wars  with  Utahs  and 
Apaches  —  The  Settlement  in  Now  Mexico  Invaded  by  IlosUle 
Indians  —  A  Brilliant  Company  —  Seven  Battles — Peace 497 

CHAPTER    LXII  I. 

Tlic  Navajo  Indians  Join  the  Rebels — Tlieir  Hostile  Attitude  —  Car- 
H(in  Leads  an  Army  against  tiiem  —  Ten  Thousand  Indians  taken 
Prisoners  —  Advocates  of  the  New  Pcservation  Policy  —  The  Mili- 

\  tary  Division  of  the  Missouri  —  Its  Extent  —  Condition  of  the 
Tribes  in  this  Division  in  180(5 509 

CHAPTER    LXIV. 

Indian  Troubles  in  the  Military  Division  of  the  Missouri  i*.  1807  — 
Tlie  Horrible  Massacre  at  Fort  Pliil.  Kearney — Indian  Outbreaks 
in  Montana  —  Outrage  at  Smoky  Hill  and  along  the  Route  *,o  Cali. 
fornia — The  Peace  Commission  Policy  —  Inactivity  of  the  Military.  615 

CHAPTER  LXV. 
Wars  with  the  Indians  in  the  Military  Division  of  the  Missouri  — 
Operations  of  the  Peace  Commission  —  Councils  with  the  Indians  — 
Congress  Fails  to  Co-Operate — A  Formidable  Indian  War — Break, 
ing  out  of  Hostilities — Murder,  Massacre  and  Horror — A  Chapter 
of  Outrages 518 

CHAPTER    LXVI. 

Winter  Campaign  of  Lieut.-Gen.  Sheridan  in  1808 — A  Brilliant 
Triumph  over  the  Indians  East  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  —  Sur- 
render  of  the  Tribes  —  Tliey  arc  Placed  on  the  Reservations  —  The 
Way  Opened  for  the  Labors  of  tlie  Peace  Commission 527 


1:1 


f- 

f 


11 


fisi 


iOS 


tWNTKNTH. 


C  II  APT  Kit    LXVIl. 
Indian  TroiihlcM  West  of  the  Httcky  MountiiinH  — Ilorrlblt'  MiiMncrc 
of  Indiana  —  DitnuultieH  of  Mitli'ing   Wur  on   tiie  Sm\  ,ij;i-h  in  llio 
Wildti  of  llio  West  — Tlie   I'euce  ComnUHMionorH   In   Ari/.unu  nnd 
Cttilforn la  —  Curious  SpoechcH  of  Clilefu m\ 

CIIAPTEU    L  XVII  I. 

History  of  the  Modocs  —  Horriblo  Mnssncru  of  a  Party  of  InnnitfrantH 

—  Ben  Wright's  Vonj^eanco — Ti'rril»le  Destruction  of  tho  Modocs 
from  Starvation  —  Canibialism— Thu  Iteservation  Troubles S40 

CHAPTER    LXIX 

Quarrels  among  tho  Indians  on  the  Hcsurvation  —  Departure  of  Cupt 
Jack  and  It  is  band  for  the  Lava  Beds — The  Troops  Pursue  tiieni  in 
Vain  —  Fatal  Attempts  of  the  Peace  Commission  —  Murder  of  tho 
Commissioners  —  Execution  of  the  Modocs S47 

CHAPTER    LXX. 
The  Seminole  War— Earlv  Settlers  of  Florida  and  Georgia  — Indian 
and  Negro  Slavery  —  Difllcultics  among  tho  Creeks  —  Sea  Cofl'ee's 
Band  —  Slaves  Flee  to  Florida —Treaty  with  the  Creeks 558 

CHAPTER    LXXI. 

The  Seminole  War  — Difficulties  with  the  Creeks  — Their  Inability 
to  Return  tho  Fugitive  Slaves  — Complaints  of  the  Slaveholders  of 
Georgia  —  The  Georgians  Invade  Florida  —  Their  Defeat  —  Cruelty 
to  Settlers  — The  Second  Invasion  —  More  Sutt'cring  —  British  Inter- 
ference and  Occupation  in  Georgia  and  Florida — The  Fort  of  the 
Exiles— The  Fort  Blown  Up  — Great  Destruction  of  Human  Life- 
Commencement  of  the  First  Seminole  War 666 

CHAPTER  LXXI  I. 
The  First  Seminole  War  —  Massacre  of  Lieut.  Scott  —  Jackson's  Army 
Invades  Florida,  and  Burns  Seminole  Towns  — Peace — Purchasing 
Slaves  from  Indians  with  Wliieky  —  A  Movement  to  Remove  the 
Seminoles  West  of  the  Mississippi —  Osceola,  His  Wife,  Her  Fate, 
and  His  Revenge  —  The  Massacre  at  Fort  King  —  Louis,  the  Guide 

—  Terrible  Massacre  at  the  Great  Wahoo  Swamp 502 

CHAPTER  LXXIII. 
The  Second  Seminole  War  —  The  Battle  of  the  Withlacoochee  — 
Bravery  of  Osceola — The  Seminoles  and  Negroes  Defeated  —  Gen. 
Gaines's  Fruitless  Campaign  —  Osceola  Attacks  Miconopy  —  Heil- 
miin's  Gallant  Defense  —  The  Battle  between  Pearcc  and  Osceola  — 
Several  Severe  Battles  —  The  Seminoles  Hard  to  Conquer 569 

CHAPTER  LXXIV. 
Conclusion  of  the  Second  Seminole  War  —  Several  Battles  —  Gen. 
Jessup's  Peace  Policy  —  Hostilities  Renewed  —  Slave -Catching 
Parties  —  The  Seminoles  and  Exiles  Persuaded  to  Go  West  —  Eflbrts 
to  Subject  them  to  Creek  Authority  —  Invaded  by  the  Creeks  — 
Emigration  of  the  Exiles  to  Mexico 574 

CHAPTER  LXXV. 
The  Indian  Wars  of  the  Southern  States  — Tribes,  Etc.  — King  Ton- 
mohichi  and  His  Queen  —  Bosomworth  and  Mary  —  A  Thrilling 
Incident  —  A  General  War  —  Gen.  Jackson's  Campaign  —  Terrible 
Massacres — Hard  Fought  Battles  —  Complete  Subjugation  of  the 
Indians  —  Bravery  of  the  Celebrated  Wcatherford 585 


MnnRHcre 
'H  In  the 
f.ona  nnd 


Mi\ 


imiitrnnti* 
i  M«k1och 


S40 


L'  of  Cupt 

e  them  In 
ler  of  tho 


547 


k  — Indiau 
la  Cofl'ec't) 


558 


■  Inability 
holdvi'H  of 
,  —  Cruelty 
itlsh  Intcr- 
Port  of  tho 
aan  Life  — 


66P 


son's  Army 
[•urchasinj? 
leniove  the 
,  Her  Fate, 
I.  the  Quiilo 


502 


acoochee  — 
ated  — Gin. 
opy— Heil- 
1  Osceola  • 


569 


ittles  —  Gen. 
I'e- Catching 
est  — Eflbrts 
lie  Creeks  — 


574 


—  King  Ton- 
A  Thrilling 
rn  —  Terrible 
ation  of  the 


585 


